Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach. I hope we can get a particular focus on it because it is sadly the case that a gentleman who was found by the Australian greyhound authorities to be using live animals for baiting and who was barred from working for the industry in Australia, and who I believe was barred in England also, is back working in a kennel in Ireland. I wonder whether the Minister of State is aware of that and if he is, what has he done to ensure that such a man will have no contact with the industry?

I understand that an RTE "Prime Time" programme to be broadcast next week will deal with the greyhound industry. There are significant issues of public concern, given that this is an industry that is being funded to the tune of €16 million a year. That is the figure given annually to Bord na gCon, which has the responsibility of developing the industry. It would be good to hear from the Minister of State tomorrow on the subject because far too often we have reaction to what emerges in RTE documentaries. There are facts already in the public domain. There was a disturbing article in The Sunday Timesin December about the doping of greyhounds in the sector. It is important that the Minister of State would take the opportunity tomorrow to tell us what he knows about these disturbing reports, the action he has taken if he does know, if he has not known up to now, the reason for that, and what he intends to do now.