Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

We have heard about the improvements to welfare in the industry. It is really important to be clear: any of these improvements have not come about by goodwill or a sudden revelation, or even simply because a documentary exposed the horror of the current practices within the greyhound industry. The changes to greyhound welfare have happened because the industry was made to change. Senator Ruane talked about the fact that we pushed for a ban on exports of greyhounds when the Greyhound Racing Bill was going through the previous Oireachtas. We did not succeed in getting that ban into the Bill at the time, but Senator Ruane and I did succeed, with the support of others, in passing a requirement for a vet to be on the board of the Greyhound Racing Ireland and a requirement for retirement and rehoming planning. That is the reason there is a rehoming strategy now for Bord na gCon. It is because it was required to produce such a strategy.That is why we need a firmer and stronger regulatory approach to these issues. We have heard about the rural and community aspect of racing. Let us be clear that this is an industrial-scale activity, and not a community activity, when 6,000 dogs are being bred each year for execution because they are not fast enough. There is perhaps a role for the continuation of this industry, but only if it completely changes. I support the proposals Deputy Cairns put before the Dáil because they were intended to transition this sector, scale it down and make it something which can be defended at some stage. It cannot be now.

I also note that at a time when there is great need in the animal welfare area, and other areas, as has been mentioned, the State is subsidising this sector. The betting levy has gone down from 10% in 1999 to 2% now. Ladbrokes Coral made a profit of €720 million this year. If there is to be additional funding for this sector, let it come from those who profit from the suffering of the greyhounds, namely, the betting industry and not from the Exchequer.