Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael)

I will give the Senator evidence in a few moments. There is an obvious concern that the provision to employ people connected with animal welfare will allow people without qualification, from any background and whose involvement in illegal practices or threatening behaviour has not been checked, to carry out inspections. It is a matter of public record that people who are involved in animal welfare in Ireland have connections with people who have criminal records with regard to animal liberation in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. I can present evidence of this if I am required to do so.

There is real concern among greyhound breeders about these people, who make no secret of their intentions and have said they would like to see an outright ban on greyhound racing. A number of months ago, the website of the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals stated that the society's long-term objective is to have greyhound racing banned in Ireland. These are the people to whom the Bill would give authority to inspect people involved in the greyhound industry. If the Bill, as currently drafted, is passed there will be neither objectivity nor fairness in the inspection process.

I do not cast aspersions on everyone connected with animal welfare. Much good work is done in this area. However, a minority is enough to do damage. That is what people are afraid of.

Inspections must be carried out in an objective, fair and professional manner. While Opposition Members have no objection to veterinary practitioners inspecting dog-breeding premises, we are not happy with the very broad and vague definition in the Bill of "persons connected with animal welfare". The Minister must address this matter, which is of grave concern to those in the industry.

The Fine Gael amendment proposes to delete the subsection which includes among those who may be authorised to carry out inspections "persons connected with animal welfare". We propose to clarify that definition by substituting the following, "The Local Authority may designate such and so many of its officials and/or veterinary practitioners who are employed by the Department of Agriculture as "authorised persons" for the purposes of this Act."

The Minister of State comes from a rural constituency. He knows that farm inspections are carried out by people who are under the auspices of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and who are accountable to their employers, the Department and to the Oireachtas. We would prefer to see the definition of authorised persons fully clarified. They should come from the same categories as those who already inspect farms or are veterinary practitioners. That is a reasonable and practical proposal. People who are known to have problems with the dog-breeding industry and whose views of the industry are known not to be objective cannot be allowed to inspect it. Such people cannot be given the power to close down breeding establishments. That is a real concern and that is why we have tabled this amendment. People whose backgrounds have not been scrutinised cannot be appointed as inspectors.

The greyhound and dog-breeding industries deserve more clarity and definition. We ask the Minister to consider this reasonable amendment. All law should be easily enacted and easily enforced. We do not want to create further divisions in our society and further problems for industries which are indigenous and up-and-running. We want an inspection regime which people can stand over and is authorised by the Department. Anyone who is given authority to inspect must have a proper and clear background. The definition in the Bill does not allow for that. I ask the Minister of State to address this matter.