Lynn Ruane (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for being back in the Seanad today and also for making himself available to discuss the Bill yesterday. It was useful and I hope it will help us move through the Bill more quickly today. As I was mid-speech when we reported progress the last time, I am not going to repeat what I said. I will just finish commenting on the amendments from the point at which I was stopped. We were discussing amendments Nos. 7 to 16, inclusive, and I had dealt with those as far as No. 15.

Amendment No. 16 inserts a criminal penalty for those who break regulations issued in the interests of the welfare of racing greyhounds under section 29. A criminal penalty is retained for cases where regulations under section 26, which relates to the artificial insemination of greyhounds, are broken. Someone who violates the health and welfare regulations, however, is only subject to a racing penalty. We seek to strengthen this section of the Bill by giving real teeth to the regulations and to make the Bill more uniform.

Amendments Nos. 7 to 16, inclusive, taken together are intended to strengthen and work with the provisions of the Bill as written and as they relate to the welfare of greyhounds. They are intended to be constructive and I hope the Minister of State will give them serious consideration.