Denis Landy (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I want to raise two issues, the first of which is the proposed picket at Shelbourne Park by the Dublin Greyhound Owners and Breeders Association on Saturday night, 4 February. The picket stems from the frustration felt within the industry across the country but most particularly in Dublin because of the total inaction of the Irish Greyhound Board on the issue of the future of the Harold's Cross track. The Indecon report published in 2014 showed that, under the board, the Irish greyhound industry was in debt to the tune of €21 million. It found that the board was challenged and flawed on a number of fronts, including financial governance, doping and performance procedures. It also found that the financial system in place was flawed. For that reason, it came up with a number of proposals, one of which was that the Harold's Cross track be sold in anticipation of the zoning being changed from amenity to development land in the Dublin development plan. Local councillors, some from within the Labour Party, I am glad to say, saw off this proposal and the Harold's Cross track was retained as an amenity, thereby reducing the value of the land. Despite this, the only action the Irish Greyhound Board has come up with to date to address its €21 million debt involves the selling of the Harold's Cross track. The board has squandered and wasted money for the past 20 years. In one instance, it spent millions in developing a new track in Limerick, but it failed to sell the old track. It has also failed dismally to grow the industry because it has not dealt with the problem of doping. I congratulate everyone who was in Clonmel for the coursing meetings on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. There is horse racing meeting there today. The people I met had lost faith in the industry. I ask that the legislation promised since 2015 to deal with the recommendations made in the Indecon report be brought forward and also that the new interim CEO, Dr. Seán Brady, meet the Irish Greyhound Owners and Breeders Association, something he has refused to do to date. In addition, will the Leader find out how long the interim period will be and when a new CEO will be put in place? The last CEO left overnight. It is very important for a State board that a CEO be appointed properly.

I want to raise one other brief issue.