Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

I wish to share my time with Senator Pat O'Neill.

This Bill will be passed in the House, the Dog Breeding Establishment Bill was passed but is not yet in action, and the animal health and Welfare Bill is yet to be introduced to the House. When those three Bills are passed there will be a significant body of legislation to protect animals and see to their welfare. I will strongly support it. If we had the same level of support for elderly people and children we would have a better society.

I recall very strenuous debate in this House on the Dog Breeding Establishments Bill. At a time when the country was going down the tubes financially, economically and politically 18 months ago, it was amusing that one of the biggest difficulties in the Government was the inclusion of greyhounds in the Bill. There was a rumour that one Deputy or another was going to bring down the Government over the greyhound issue but eventually the former Minister, Mr. John Gormley, appeared to back down and it was decided to separate greyhounds from the broader scheme of the legislation. It was a wise move because most of what the Government was trying to put in place under the Dog Breeding Establishments Bill already applied to the greyhound industry. The people who monitor, control and manage the greyhound industry, to the maximum degree possible, ensure the highest standards of care and welfare for their animals.

I listened with interest to my colleagues on this debate. There has been a great depth of knowledge among all speakers who have contributed. We need to constantly assert that the greyhound industry is not just a sport or pastime but a strong generator of economic activity in rural and urban Ireland. Many people in small towns have greyhounds or are involved in syndicates. Many people benefit from the industry and a huge number of people contribute to it.

The Minister of State will be aware that last Saturday night in Cork was the final of the Laurels. A huge crowd attended, as they do every year. Set piece occasions when thousands of people come together to watch a greyhound race illustrate the strength of the industry. The future funding of the industry and the horse and greyhound fund is up for debate. We must continue to try to financially support a sport that pays for itself time and again.

The Minister of State is getting the balance right in this Bill. I acknowledge the hard work he has done on liaising with various stakeholders. A number of concerns were related to us by constituents in regard to the inspection process and the limits on breeding. I trust we will tease those issues out on Committee Stage. The current inspection levels in the industry are substantial and I look forward to hearing on Committee Stage from the Minister of State about the additional measures planned, and about which people are concerned.

Senator Power made some valid points about animal welfare. I agree with what she said about the dog licence fee. I may be straying outside the Bill. Sadly, too many people seem to be unaware or do not care about the cost of keeping animals. We saw horrific cases last winter where there were unwanted horses. In conjunction with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and local authorities, we must try to put in place and fund a scheme whereby local authorities will be in a position to respond to people who have unwanted dogs, horses or other animals. Animals should be removed from the people who can no longer care for them. It will be expensive but it is something that Minister of State might take on board given the horror stories last winter. We have a cold economic climate as well as cold weather. People find it difficult to come up with the money to look after animals at the proper level, something which needs to be attended to. I look forward to contributing to the debate on Committee Stage.

The balance of the Bill is as correct as the Minister of State can make it. When we were on the other side of the House we wanted to separate the greyhound industry from broader animal welfare issues and that has been done. I look forward to the Bill coming into law and the Dog Breeding Establishments Bill being implemented. Puppy farms continue to be a scandal, as they were 12 months or two years ago.