Rónán Mullen (Independent)

I welcome the Minister of State. Tá fáilte roimhe. Tá an-áthas orm go bhfuil an Bille seo os ár gcomhair. Thacaigh mé leis an Bille eile, a bhí an Comhaontas Glas freagrach as, anuraidh. I ndáiríre, tá an-creidiúint le tabhairt dóibh as ucht an cheist seo a ardú. Tá sé tábhachtach go bhfuil an Bille os ár gcomhair inniu.

I supported what became the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 when it was the subject of a passionate debate in the previous Seanad. I recall that a number of Fine Gael Senators at the time were extremely concerned with regard to certain aspects of that legislation. I am still of the view that great credit is due to the Green Party which was then in government for the initiative it showed in introducing the legislation to which I refer. To some degree, the Green Party, when it brought forward that legislation, ran the gauntlet of people who live in rural areas. I am very proud of the fact that I originally come from such an area. I have always been of the opinion that animal welfare should never take second place. I grew up on a farm and we always tried to operate to the highest standards. I am glad Ireland has changed so much over the years. In the past it was a place where animals were often not respected and were cruelly treated by people who were otherwise very compassionate and decent. For many years there was an ignorance with regard to the dignity of all of creation and the proper respect that is due in the context of the welfare of animals. This is not a matter of animal rights. I do not have a great sympathy with the latter term. I am of the view that animals have dignity. The problem with regard to cruelty to animals is not so much that their rights are being violated, rather it is the effect treating creation in such a wantonly cruel way has on human beings.

I am satisfied that this Bill will fit well into the body of legislation relating to this area that is already in existence. There is no question but that further legislation will be required in respect of the protection of general animal welfare. I look forward to such legislation coming before the House in the near future.

In contrast to the troubling accounts regarding unregulated and so-called "puppy farms" which surfaced during the debate on what became the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010, the position that obtains in respect of greyhound breeding is obviously markedly different. Greyhound breeders strive to breed high-quality greyhounds to win races. In the context of greyhound breeding, therefore, quality rather than quantity is of paramount importance. It is obvious that we are starting from a different place in respect of this matter.

It has been stated that the greyhound industry is extremely important to this county and that, directly and indirectly, it is responsible for sustaining 11,000 full and part-time jobs. The fact that these jobs are mainly located in rural communities makes the industry all the more important as far as I am concerned. The industry provides an estimated €500 million to local economies through the tracks that are spread throughout the country. The greyhound breeding industry is also successful and many greyhounds currently running in races in the UK are Irish bred. We have begun to emulate the success of the Irish bloodstock industry by ensuring that the country has become identified as a centre of excellence for the breeding of greyhounds. Bord na gCon is to be congratulated on the work it has done in the context of revitalising what was a flagging industry. At a time when greyhound tracks in the UK are being closed, life has been injected into our industry and attendances are on the rise at redeveloped tracks throughout the country. As a result of successful advertising and rebranding, an evening at the dogs is now seen as an enjoyable way to socialise and entertain friends.

The Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010, to which I referred earlier, seeks to ensure the observance of proper standards of animal welfare in dog breeding establishments. When the House debated that legislation, the point was made that it would be more appropriate to introduce a separate Bill to regulate the position with regard to animal welfare within the greyhound industry. It was correctly acknowledged that the greyhound industry already has a system of self-regulation in place, which included certain provisions on welfare. The separate legislation was introduced in order to provide a regime for greyhound welfare; whereas the objective is similar to that of previous legislation, the approach taken is, if anything, more rigorous and strict in its application of oversight and controls on the breeding of greyhounds, which is to be welcomed. The different bodies involved have agreed with the need for separate legislation to regulate all aspects of welfare throughout the greyhound industry, and to therefore protect this country's reputation in respect of the care of greyhounds. It is not just a matter of looking out for animal welfare, as important as that is, but it is also important to look out for Ireland's reputation. I congratulate the Minister of State and the previous Administration for the consultation which led to this legislation.

I am strongly of the opinion that it was both right and proper to distinguish this industry from so-called puppy farming, and that is why I welcome this separate legislation. The scrutiny required of greyhound breeders is of a high level, and this is welcomed by the vast majority of reputable breeders across the country who are committed to breeding high-quality racing greyhounds. This has always been an industry which has been committed to quality over quantity. As I mentioned, the industry already has a system of self-regulation in place that can be readily adapted for welfare purposes, and the Bill uses this as its starting point.

The welfare requirements specified in the Bill on animal keepers to safeguard animals in their care are in addition to the general provisions relating to cruelty in the Protection of Animals Act 1911 and the amending legislation of 1965. Greyhounds not registered in the stud book cannot be covered by the scope of the Bill but will continue to be covered by general animal welfare legislation, which is important. The provisions of the Bill apply to all greyhounds in the stud book but there is great merit in establishing a register of greyhound breeding establishments. These are premises at which not fewer than four greyhound bitches are kept, each of which is more than 15 months old and has been or is being used for breeding. The scope of the Bill extends to all greyhounds in the industry and not only those found on a premises registered as a greyhound breeding establishment.

The Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 provided for what before now was an unregulated industry, with no existing system relating either to the registration of individual dogs for stud book purposes or the registration of premises on which they are kept. The regulation of this industry envisages a comprehensive scrutiny regime and grants a wide range of powers to welfare officers, allowing them to specify various items in welfare notices, which is also welcome. The provisions will not present any difficulty to the vast majority of individuals who take due cognisance of welfare requirements, have proper premises and who operate their business in co-operation with local veterinary practice. A welcome aspect of this Bill is that a greyhound bitch will not be allowed to breed until she is 15 months, compared with a stipulation of six months in the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010.

A limit will also be placed on the number of litters a bitch can produce, which reflects the need for quality over quantity which I mentioned earlier. Last year we had similar conversations about these kinds of concepts, with some Senators warning that we were in danger of legislating our way back into the bedroom. It is important that this kind of detail be dealt with for the sake of animal welfare.

I will discuss some of the real economic and employment benefits from the industry. In 2009, Bord na gCon - a semi-State body responsible for the control and development of the industry in Ireland - received €13.6 million in Government subsidies and in 2010 it received €11 million. I believe it is now seeking €15 million to develop a business venture in China, where it intends to build racing stadia and infrastructure, which could be a very valuable new opportunity to expand the employment provided by the industry. I call on the Minister to fully commit to any necessary supports for this vital source of employment in rural areas. As the Minister of State is aware, the industry is located at the heart of rural communities and provides employment for families and a wide variety of other individuals.

It is important that we continue to assess and champion the work being done. There are exciting possibilities for the greyhound industry, and I have mentioned the possibility of exporting animals to China and elsewhere. We should research this fully and support such initiatives. As I noted in a previous debate on the closure of Army barracks, balanced regional development should be a key goal of this Government as the country weathers the recession. We should not lose sight of the enormous damage which can be inflicted upon rural communities as a result of the loss of jobs not easily replaced. As a small investment by the Government can often safeguard and secure existing jobs in the rural and regional economy, that investment ought to be made. It is a case of a stitch in time saves nine.

Government support of Bord na gCon provides the basis for the operation of the industry and what the Government and society get in return is the provision of 10,000 jobs, mainly in rural areas. If these jobs were lost, they would be gone forever and the workers affected would have to leave rural areas to find alternative employment, in the process destroying communities and making a mockery of all our attempts at balanced regional development. Ireland is regarded as a world class player in dog breeding and there must be significant potential to exploit this reputation further. It can become an even more significant export industry than has been the case and the Irish industry model can be transferred to other countries, as I noted. This aspect is being investigated and developed. The Government continuously repeats the mantra of export-led recovery; it should support that process.

I welcome the Bill and the provisions it contains. I commend the previous Minister and the Minister of State for the work being done and I am delighted the legislation has come this far. Let us highlight the importance of the greyhound industry and the people involved for their work and efforts. In ensuring the highest standards in welfare of animals we will safeguard the future of the industry. The vast majority of those involved in it would not be able to continue to operate if the welfare of animals was not the first priority in rearing, training and racing greyhounds. This is a win-win for animal welfare, a noble aim in its own right, as well as for our reputation abroad in ensuring the industry continues to thrive.