Denis Landy (Labour) | Oireachtas source

We have had several discussions in the past week on sport, but there is a need to deal specifically with the scourge of doping in sport. Anyone who has an interest in the greyhound industry will be aware that six greyhounds, some of them competition winners, which participated in the most recent national coursing festival tested positive for banned substances. This is a totally unacceptable situation, with genuine dog breeders and enthusiasts having to put their animals up against dogs which have been doped. I had a discussion recently with the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Tom Hayes, on the greyhound industry, track racing and the difficulties in regard to doping. This latest revelation brings coursing centre stage as an additional cause for concern.

Will the Leader ask the Minister of State to extend the terms of reference of the independent report he has commissioned on the greyhound industry to include coursing? All these revelations are doing substantial damage to the image of the Irish greyhound industry nationally and internationally. This disreputable activity cannot be allowed to continue. It is costing breeders, owners and others involved in the industry millions of euro. The report commissioned by the Minister of State is due for publication in a couple of months, which leaves plenty of time for coursing to be included in its remit.