Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State to the House and the fact that he has dealt with this matter appropriately, on the basis that agreement was reached when the dog breeding establishments legislation was brought before the previous Oireachtas. It was agreed at the time that separate legislation would be brought forward to cover the greyhound industry. I pay tribute to many of my colleagues in the other House, who played a pivotal role at the time in removing the greyhound industry from the confines of the dog breeding establishments legislation. It is important that there be continuity in that regard. I pay tribute to the Minister of State on the work he has done in bringing this Bill before the Dáil, and the Seanad today.

If the greyhound industry were to be regulated under the Dog Breeding Establishments Act, it would be to the detriment of the industry. It is important that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine acknowledge that. The former Minister, Deputy Brendan Smith, certainly did. There is now continuity in this area.

The Minister of State outlined the legislative changes proposed to be introduced in the Bill. Before I discuss them, I must acknowledge the importance of the greyhound industry to the Irish economy and sport. It is important that this be acknowledged in the House.

We all recognise the need for animal welfare. In this regard, everyone, whether on the green or practical side of the argument, was trying to achieve the same objective, namely, to have the welfare of animals protected by the State in law. We all buy into this and agree on it.

The greyhound industry is important to the country's economy, culture and tourism, and it is also important from a rural perspective. If one picks up an in-flight magazine when flying into Ireland, one will see therein an advertisement for an Irish greyhound stadium showing its services and potential. That is true recognition of the importance of the industry to the country.

Approximately 10,000 people are employed, either directly or indirectly, in the greyhound industry in Ireland. The wage bill is estimated to be approximately €207 million and the tax contribution from this employment is estimated at €21 million. Employment in the industry is not confined to one or two areas; it is spread throughout the country. I am pleased that the regional dispersion in terms of the availability of greyhound stadia has spread to Lifford in my constituency, where one of the 17 stadia is located. These 17 tracks are under the ownership of the greyhound industry in every county. Race meetings generate significant levels of expenditure and economic activity each week in rural towns, and greyhound owners make a significant contribution to economic activity through the purchase of various goods and services to maintain ownership. The industry generates activity and employment in rural areas which would not happen in the absence of this important element of indigenous industry.

Between 2002 and 2010 some 18,200 race meetings were held in Ireland, attended by 10.25 million people. This provides some background to the importance of the industry. The greyhound stadia in the country generate approximately €500,000 in revenue on an annual basis for each of the areas they serve. Given the current economic climate, the industry is vital together with returns from the bookmakers, which benefit from and provide a service to the greyhound industry.

The passage of the Dog Breeding Establishments Act in 2010 followed agreement reached at the highest level in government between the then Taoiseach and the then Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, John Gormley. While the Green Party had its agenda at the time, few of us bought into it. The proposal was impractical in terms of the potential the industry had for rural Ireland and to sport within Ireland. It was believed at the time that the Greyhound Industry Act 1958, although outdated, could be updated to reflect the animal welfare needs of the greyhound industry and could be dealt with as separate legislation from that being brought forward to regulate puppy farms and so on.

As the Minister of State has remarked, this legislation will address the need to register breeding establishments with the Irish Coursing Club under the supervision of local authorities. Minimum standards will be set for establishments and this will require adequate tracking mechanisms and record-keeping. The Minister of State has set this out and it is outlined in the legislation as well.

The Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 served to regulate dogs, puppy farms and so on. As the Minister of State mentioned, following consultation it was agreed that the best way to regulate the greyhound industry would be by stand-alone legislation. Several options were available to the current Minister and the previous Minister with regard to which way, if any, the industry should be regulated. The first option was to do nothing, in other words to leave the industry as it was or to cover it until the Dog Breeding Establishments Act was passed. This was not a realistic option given the political agreement reached between the Taoiseach, the Minister for Finance and the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. The second option was to combine other legislation with the greyhound racing Act 2010 which, I understand, is being drafted. Will the Minister of State provide an update on that separate legislation? The third option was stand-alone legislation and this is what the Minister of State is bringing forward. This is the most sensible mechanism to deal with the matter. One benefit to the taxpayer is that this is cost-neutral.

We all subscribe to animal welfare and there is a need to protect animals in every sector of Irish agriculture. This applies not only in the greyhound industry, which provides so much of the economic development and potential of the country, but elsewhere. The template adopted in this country in terms of greyhound racing, the stadia and the sport could be replicated in other countries. We should be proud of the achievements of the Irish greyhound industry, including the large number of people who walk dogs early in the morning and late in the evening. In many cases, the individuals in question volunteer to do this work. We should be proud of their achievements because they are sporting achievements. Whether located in the middle of Dublin, Cork or County Donegal, greyhound stadia are available to members of the public, many of whom are not aware of the work that is done to bring dogs to racing condition.

I subscribe to the objective of protecting greyhounds, as set out in the legislation. My party fully supports the Bill and looks forward to early enactment following its passage through the Seanad. I hope it will be passed at the earliest possible date to give effect to the commitment given in the 2010 Act. I am pleased the Minister of State is before the House and look forward to Committee Stage.