Denis Landy (Labour) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday the long-awaited Indecon report on the review of certain matters relating to Bord na gCon was published. It makes startling reading when one considers the fall-off of revenue in the greyhound industry of 56% since 2006. The organisation is in debt to the amount of €21 million and sales and gate receipts are drastically down. The pension fund is underfunded by almost €7 million. The report calls on the Minister to bring forward legislation to deal with a number of issues within the ambit of the board, such as the inspection of premises, and significant regulatory proficiencies which need to be addressed on the conduct of off-course tests. Additional sanctions are also required, according to the report, for doping and animal welfare breaches.

This detailed report covers 70 pages. I call on the Leader to request the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with responsibility for the area, Deputy Hayes, to come to the House and debate the issue before we break for the summer recess. In fairness to the Minister of State, he has accepted the report and has afforded Bord na gCon three months to respond to it. It is important to have a public debate on the matter in the House before we break for the summer because the three months will be up and we will not have had an opportunity to have an input.