Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)

I support the principle of what my colleague, Senator Maurice Cummins, said. He has pointed out that this is a very valuable industry. He has also pointed out that the Irish Greyhound Board is somewhat concerned about the Bill. I want to place on record also my concern over the most unusual situation, where we are being asked by the Minister, in effect, to take a leap of faith that amendments may be introduced in the other House and brought back here for us to rubber-stamp in two or three weeks or whenever the Bill returns. Some weeks ago, I wrote to my whip stating I could not accept the Bill in its current form. While Members are being asked today to accept the Bill in its current form, subject to possible amendments in the Dáil, this position is untenable to me. Obviously, I support the Minister and I spoke on Second Stage to the effect that the entire purpose and tenet of the Bill was to outlaw puppy farms and so on. However, the net has been spread far and wide and is affecting many people. Lest anyone think that I am a greyhound owner or breeder, I have only been at Cork greyhound track thrice in my life. I am a rural life enthusiast and although I know some people in gun clubs and so on, I am not one of those who takes an extreme right position. I have been highly objective in respect of this Bill but am deeply concerned that the manner in which the Bill is being dealt with in this House is most unorthodox. It is disingenuous for Members, especially those on the Government side of the House, to be expected to vote down amendments today that may be dealt with favourably in the other House, only to return here in two, three or four weeks' time or whenever, to rubber-stamp and endorse them. Although I have the utmost respect for the Cathaoirleach's position, I find this difficult to tolerate or stomach. Basically, I consider it to be demeaning to this House and it should be unacceptable. While many aspects of this House may have caused unnecessary public opprobrium abroad as to how matters are conducted here, with all due respect the Minister has merely brought to the House the foundation of some of the wording of possible amendments. Such amendments should have been tabled before Members today, after which a more robust debate at this late stage could have taken place.

With all due respect, the Bill has been parked for two months or a little more. I acknowledge the Minister has been working in good faith with the Irish Greyhound Board, IGB, the Irish Coursing Club, ICC, and others to ascertain whether a favourable conclusion can be reached. However, this puts me in a most invidious position on a point of principle, as does my belief that, to use fishing parlance, the net and trawl being thrown out by the Minister is far too wide.

I concur with Senator Cummins's contention that the 1958 Act could easily have been revisited. There is over-regulation within the fishing industry that has driven many people from that industry. Members are now witnessing over-regulation in the greyhound industry at the coursing level or otherwise. I must confess that I have never attended a coursing meeting in my life. The amendment tabled by Fine Gael seeks to address such over-regulation. I also acknowledge the significant work carried out on this issue by Senator Coffey. Having listened to him throughout the debates in this Chamber, it is obvious that he knows his stuff. This over-regulation will damage the greyhound industry and will drive out the small operators.

These concerns are deeply held and while it is not usual for me to support points being made, I have grave concerns and am greatly troubled about a number of issues in this regard. Although it is not an easy matter to me to take a stand that might put me in a difficult position, I certainly have highlighted and flagged my grave concerns regarding the Bill's direction. It is inappropriate for Members to be parked up a sideline and to be told that the Upper House is not capable of handling such amendments. If it is a time issue, it can wait for a week or ten days. The amendments should be tabled before this House, rather than obliging Members to come back to rubber-stamp the Bill at a time when it is most likely the Dáil will be in recess. Members will run into a cul-de-sac and with all due respect, the Minister could run foul of technical issues in this Bill and I am concerned that this is the wrong way to go about it.