Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I am pleased to bring the Welfare of Greyhounds Bill 2011 before the Seanad and look forward to an informed and constructive debate during its passage through the House.

The greyhound racing industry is a very important one.

According to Bord na gCon, the greyhound industry is responsible for sustaining 11,000 full and part-time jobs, directly and indirectly, many of which are in rural communities. The industry provides an estimated €500 million for local economies around the tracks spread throughout the country. The greyhound breeding sector is also very successful, with approximately 75% of greyhounds now running in the United Kingdom Irish-bred. Furthermore, it should be highlighted that greyhound racing attracts a significant number of continental European visitors to Ireland and I am hopeful this aspect of the industry will develop.

As Members know, the Bill arises from the debates last year on the Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2010 which sought to ensure proper standards of animal welfare in dog breeding establishments involved in what is known as puppy farming. Following the enactment of that Bill, it was agreed to introduce separate legislation to regulate the greyhound industry, with a view to optimising the level of animal welfare in the industry. Whereas the policy objective is similar to that of the Dog Breeding Establishments Act with regard to animal welfare, the approach taken in the Welfare of Greyhounds Bill differs owing to the distinct nature of and the controls applying to the keeping of greyhounds.

During the debate on the Dog Breeding Establishments Bill it was acknowledged that the greyhound industry already had a system of self-regulation in place which included certain welfare provisions. One of the major strengths of the industry is that the Irish Coursing Club identifies and registers greyhounds individually in the stud book so as to ensure the integrity of the racing system. The industry already has welfare provisions in place. I acknowledge the work of the Irish Coursing Club and Bord na gCon on the various aspects of self-regulation, but it is appropriate to provide a statutory basis for welfare provisions in the industry and the Welfare of Greyhounds Bill addresses that issue.

In bringing forward the Welfare of Greyhounds Bill I have taken cognisance of existing procedures operated by the Irish Coursing Club and Bord na gCon in the greyhound industry with regard to identification, registration and welfare. In contrast, the Dog Breeding Establishments Bill was directed at the unregulated sector known as puppy farming. I am pleased to say Bord na gCon and the Irish Coursing Club agreed with the need for legislation to regulate all aspects of welfare throughout the industry, thus protecting the country's reputation in the care of greyhounds. Preparation of the Welfare of Greyhounds Bill has involved wide-ranging consultation with a variety of interested parties, including Departments, Bord na gCon, the Irish Coursing Club, voluntary bodies and animal welfare groups, especially those concerned with dogs. I thank all those who participated in the consultation process for their constructive input and I am confident we have struck an adequate balance in accommodating various points of views.

For the purposes of the Bill, greyhounds are defined as all greyhounds entered in the Irish greyhound stud book and they will be covered by the welfare provisions included in the Bill. Welfare requirements specified in the Bill require animal keepers to safeguard animals in their care. These are in addition to the general provisions relating to cruelty included in the Protection of Animals Act 1911 and the amending legislation of 1965. Greyhounds not registered in the stud book cannot be covered by the scope of the Bill but will continue to be covered by general animal welfare legislation, as well as the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010, where relevant. The provisions included in the Bill apply to all greyhounds entered in the stud book. Nevertheless, I saw merit in establishing a register of greyhound breeding establishments. These are premises at which not fewer than four greyhound bitches are kept, each of which is more than 15 months and has been or is being used for breeding. The scope of the Bill extends to all greyhounds in the racing and coursing industry, not just those found on a premises registered as a greyhound breeding establishment under the Bill.

The Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 provides for a hitherto unregulated industry of puppy farming, with no existing system either for the registration of individual dogs for stud book purposes or of the premises on which they are kept. The welfare provisions included in the Act apply to dogs on premises registered under the Act. Senators will be aware that there is a variety of opinions on any issue of animal welfare, particularly the welfare of dogs. However, with greyhounds, fewer problems are involved than in the business known as puppy farming. I am confident that the provisions included in the Welfare of Greyhounds Bill and the extensive powers to be given to welfare officers will result in a very high standard of welfare for greyhounds.

In today's debate, I intend to summarise the provisions of the Bill, my overall approach and the details of how this system will work. I will also outline the points of similarity and difference with the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010.

A crucial aspect of this Bill is that a greyhound bitch will not be allowed to breed until she is 15 months of age, compared with a stipulation of six months in the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010. The Bill also places a limit on the number of litters a bitch can produce. Stewards of the Irish Coursing Club visit all greyhound breeding premises to register and identify all new litters to ensure the integrity of racing. This Bill provides a legislative basis for them to deal with all aspects of welfare on such visits. Local authorities will be enabled to appoint welfare officers who will be given the same level of powers as stewards of the Irish Coursing Club. I envisage close liaison between personnel from the Irish Coursing Club and the local authorities. The Bill will form the basis of a co-operative relationship between local authorities, Bord na gCon and the Irish Coursing Club. The legislation requires that reports of inspections or details of welfare notices be notified to the Irish Coursing Club, Bord na gCon and the relevant local authority.

This Bill grants a wide range of powers to welfare officers and allows them to specify various items in welfare notices. However, these provisions will not present any difficulty to individuals who take due cognisance of welfare requirements, have proper premises and operate their business in co-operation with their local veterinary practice, as appropriate. The Bill provides that a period of up to three months will be provided from the commencement of the Act for greyhound breeding establishments to be registered. It will be lawful for an existing dog breeding establishment to continue to operate for this period. This will enable a smooth transition to full registration of greyhound breeding establishments.

In line with best practice in any regulatory regime, there will be an appropriate scale of regulatory actions which can be taken to ensure compliance. I have provided for some offences for which fines and custodial sentences will be possible upon summary conviction and other lesser offences, mainly concerning records or registration, for which only fines or in some cases fixed penalty notices will apply. A provision is necessary to require owners of establishments to co-operate, within reason. There is general need for such a provision. It is particularly important in cases where an establishment operates from the private home of the owner. The draft Bill makes provision, in circumstances where the consent of the occupier to enter a dwelling is not forthcoming, for the authorised person to apply to the District Court for a warrant to enter.

I will now go through the main provisions of the Bill. Sections 1 to 5 contain the usual provisions of a general nature dealing with such matters as the Short Title, commencement, definitions, service of notifications, notices and documents, expenses of the Minister and the making of regulations. The key definition is that of a '''greyhound breeding establishment". According to section 2:

"greyhound breeding establishment" means a premises used, in whole or in part, for breeding greyhounds at which not less than 4 greyhound bitches are kept, each of which—

(a) is more than 15 months old, and

(b) has been or is being used for breeding purposes,

but does not include a premises at which not less than 6 bitches (other than greyhound bitches), each of which is more than 6 months old and is capable of being used for breeding purposes, are also kept;

The Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 defined "a registered breeding establishment" as a premises with not fewer than six breeding females. A lower number - four - is used in this Bill. As greyhounds are more specialist animals than dogs, it was felt that a lower number of bitches was appropriate to require registration as a breeding establishment under this Bill. The age limit of 15 months that is specified in this Bill for a greyhound bitch to be bred is much higher than the six-month limit that was stipulated in the 2010 Act. This is dealt with later in the legislation. These provisions have been the subject of intensive and constructive debate. They have the support of the Bord na gCon and the Irish Coursing Club.

Sections 6 to 10 deal with welfare in general. Section 6 requires the publication of codes of practice for welfare with the consent of the Minister of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. I have required that such codes be published in draft format on the Internet to allow for feedback prior to finalisation and publication on the Internet. Section 7 provides for welfare standards for greyhounds in terms of accommodation, food and drink, exercise, health and safety. It is important to note that this section applies to all greyhounds, regardless of whether they are on the premises of a "registered breeding establishment". This is an important difference between this Bill and the Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2010, which applies to dogs on registered premises only. This Bill builds on an existing and effective regulatory system and will underpin the welfare of all registered greyhounds. Section 8provides for regulations regarding welfare and related matters. These build upon the general duty of care and codes of practice and will allow greater detail to be specified.

Section 9provides for the identification of greyhounds. I have allowed for both the traditional tattooing method and for microchipping. Greyhounds are individually identified by tattooing for registration in the studbook maintained by the Irish Coursing Club as this is vital for the integrity of the industry. As tattooing is a long-standing tradition, it is not necessary to require breeders to change their methodology at this stage. The important thing is that every greyhound pup is uniquely identified and this is verified by DNA analysis programme. In contrast, the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 deals with a sector where individual pups in the dog breeding establishments concerned have hitherto not been required to be identified by any method. In that situation, microchipping was considered to be the appropriate method of identification to be used.

Section 10provides a requirement to notify the sale or transfer of greyhounds, and this is important to allow for traceability and responsibility to attach to owners. Both the person selling the greyhound and the new owner are required to notify the Irish Coursing Club of the change of ownership. The owner is also required to notify the Irish Coursing Club of the death of a greyhound. The registered owner is at all times responsible for the greyhound's welfare.

Part 3, containing sections 11 to 16, inclusive, concerns greyhound breeding and the registration of greyhound breeding establishments. Section 11prescribes that a greyhound bitch under 15 months of age cannot be mated. This is considerably higher than the minimum breeding age of six months specified in the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010. This section also restricts to six the number of litters a greyhound bitch can produce as there are welfare concerns with greyhounds carrying an excessive number of litters. A further two litters may be permitted under veterinary certification. The Irish Coursing Club will not be permitted to register litters born to greyhounds in contravention of these requirements and, consequently, such greyhounds will not be permitted to race or be used in coursing events.

Section 12provides for the establishment and maintenance of a register of greyhound breeding establishments. These are premises with four or more greyhound bitches over 15 months of age that have been or are being used for breeding. This is lower than the number of breeding bitches specified in the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010, which stipulates that premises with six or more breeding bitches must be registered. The Irish Coursing Club may refuse to register a premises if the application is not in order, the applicant is in breach of the Act or the Irish Coursing Club is of the opinion that the premises is not suitable for operation as a greyhound breeding establishment. Each registered greyhound breeding establishment will receive a registration certificate which must be prominently displayed. There will be a grace period of three months following commencement of the Bill to allow existing establishments to register.

The existence of the Irish Coursing Club's stud book means that there is already a record of all greyhounds in the industry. This legislation applies to all greyhounds registered in the stud book, regardless of whether they are kept in registered greyhound breeding establishments. The maintenance of a register of greyhound breeding establishments facilitates greater control and allows resources to be directed at the larger premises as appropriate.

Section 13states that if the Irish Coursing Club intends to refuse registration of a premises or to make registration of a premises subject to conditions, the applicant must be informed in writing by the club. The applicant has 14 days to make representations to the Irish Coursing Club on this matter. Section 14further provides for procedures whereby a decision of the club to refuse registration of a breeding establishment, or to attach special conditions to the registration of a breeding establishment, may be appealed to the District Court. The District Court can order that the establishment be registered, set conditions for registration or affirm the refusal.

Section 15provides for removal of greyhound breeding establishments from the register. This can be done by applying for an order of the District Court. The section sets out the conditions which the District Court may impose. Reasons for removing an establishment from the register include where the operator has been convicted of on offence involving cruelty to animals, has been convicted of an offence under this Act, the Control of Dogs Act 1986 or the Protection of Animals Acts 1911 and 1965, or has breached a welfare notice. A person who contravenes an order under this section shall be guilty of an offence.

Section 16 makes it an offence to operate an unregistered greyhound breeding establishment except during the lead-in period of three months, or where an application for registration as a registered breeding establishment is being considered by the Irish Coursing Club.

Part 4, sections 17 to 27, inclusive, concerns enforcement and allows for the appointment of welfare officers and gives these officers powers of inspection and issuing welfare notices. Section 17 provides for the appointment of welfare officers by local authorities, Bord na gCon and the Irish Coursing Club to act as welfare officers under the Bill. This section also provides for the reappointment and termination of the appointment of such officers. It also allows that, in certain instances, only some of the powers of the officer may be exercised.

Section 18 sets out the functions of welfare officers, including the power at reasonable times to enter and inspect premises where the officer has reasonable grounds for believing that greyhounds are kept. A welfare officer cannot enter a dwelling without the consent of the occupier or, failing consent, without a warrant issued by the District Court. The welfare officer can inspect and take copies of records kept on the premises and can require the owner, operator or those employed in the establishment to answer relevant questions. Owners must allow welfare officers to inspect greyhounds and provide information about the greyhound's identity. The welfare officer can also take samples of feed or drink, search a vehicle, or container and remove equipment or documents. This section also provides that the welfare officer may be accompanied by a member of the Garda Síochána.

Section 19 deals with the issuing of a search warrant. The welfare officer or a member of the Garda Síochána may apply to the District Court for a warrant to carry out an inspection on a premises in which the welfare officer has reasonable grounds for believing that an offence has been committed under the Act or where entry has been refused.

Section 20 deals with the issuing of welfare notices. Welfare notices can be issued where a welfare officer is of the opinion that there is a contravention of the Act, or where a premises or vehicle pose, or are likely to pose, a threat to a greyhound's health or welfare. Welfare notices must state the grounds on which the officer forms the opinion. The notice may be served on persons in charge of either greyhounds themselves, establishments, premises where greyhounds are being traded, bred, trained, raced or coursed, or on persons in charge of vehicles transporting greyhounds. Such notices may require a wide range of actions in the interests of the welfare of greyhounds. Examples include requiring veterinary advice or treatment or the provision of food and drink of specified quantity at specified intervals. The notice can specify the numbers of greyhounds that may be kept in a particular accommodation. The notice can also require, upon the advice of a veterinarian, the cessation of breeding or that a greyhound be disposed of or destroyed in a specified manner. A person who does not comply within a reasonable time has committed an offence.

Section 21 deals with appeals against welfare notices. A person on whom a welfare notice has been served may appeal within seven days to the District Court. The judge may affirm or revoke the notice, or revoke the notice and order the person concerned to comply with certain directions.

Section 22 provides that where a welfare officer has inspected a premises or served a welfare notice, they must within seven days send a report of the inspection or a copy of the welfare notice to Bord na gCon, the Irish Coursing Club and the relevant local authority.

Section 23 allows, following veterinary examination, for the immediate veterinary treatment or humane destruction of a greyhound which is in pain, distress or an acute state of neglect. Obviously it is regrettable but necessary to provide for this, but I would hope it is a power that most welfare officers will never be called upon to implement. The cost of doing so can be recovered from the owner of the greyhound as a simple contract debt in court.

Section 24 makes it an offence to forge registration documentation or knowingly provide forged documentation or altered registration material with intent to defraud or deceive.

Section 25 concerns obstruction and makes it an offence to obstruct a garda or welfare officer, and to fail or refuse to comply with a requirement under section 18, which deals with the functions of a welfare officer, or section 19, which refers to the issuing of a search warrant.

Section 26 concerns penalties and proceedings. Fines not exceeding €5,000 can be applied on summary conviction for offences concerning notification of transfer of ownership under section 10(6), providing false or misleading information in an application for registration under section 12(17), failure to display registration under section 12(18), or failure to surrender a registration certificate where required to do so under section 15(7). This section also provides for fines not exceeding €5,000 and imprisonment up to six months on summary conviction for certain offences, including offences relating to welfare, breaching restrictions on breeding, operating an unregistered premises, failure to comply with a welfare notice, forgery or obstruction of welfare officers. Cases can be taken by Bord na gCon, the Irish Coursing Club, the local authority or An Garda Síochána. Fines shall be paid to the relevant body taking the case.

I had representations from those involved in enforcement, some of whom felt that all fines should belong to their organisation, even where the case was taken by another organisation. However, I felt this was inappropriate. The section, as drafted, will be the best way to ensure an active and robust approach to regulation.

Section 27 provides that a fixed payment notice fine can be issued for between €250 and €1,000, which falls due within 28 days. These can be issued where a welfare officer or a member of An Garda Síochána has reasonable grounds for believing there has been an offence concerning notification of transfer of ownership, provision of false or misleading information in an application for registration, a failure to display a registration certificate or failure to surrender a registration certificate where required to do so. There will not be a prosecution if payment is made with the 28 days.

Part 5, sections 28 and 29, contains miscellaneous provisions. Section 28 states the functions of the Irish Coursing Club may be performed by the secretary of the club. Section 29 states the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 does not apply to premises registered as a "greyhound breeding establishment" under this Act.

I look forward to engagement on these provisions and I commend the Bill to the House.

Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the Minister of State to the House and the fact that he has dealt with this matter appropriately, on the basis that agreement was reached when the dog breeding establishments legislation was brought before the previous Oireachtas. It was agreed at the time that separate legislation would be brought forward to cover the greyhound industry. I pay tribute to many of my colleagues in the other House, who played a pivotal role at the time in removing the greyhound industry from the confines of the dog breeding establishments legislation. It is important that there be continuity in that regard. I pay tribute to the Minister of State on the work he has done in bringing this Bill before the Dáil, and the Seanad today.

If the greyhound industry were to be regulated under the Dog Breeding Establishments Act, it would be to the detriment of the industry. It is important that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine acknowledge that. The former Minister, Deputy Brendan Smith, certainly did. There is now continuity in this area.

The Minister of State outlined the legislative changes proposed to be introduced in the Bill. Before I discuss them, I must acknowledge the importance of the greyhound industry to the Irish economy and sport. It is important that this be acknowledged in the House.

We all recognise the need for animal welfare. In this regard, everyone, whether on the green or practical side of the argument, was trying to achieve the same objective, namely, to have the welfare of animals protected by the State in law. We all buy into this and agree on it.

The greyhound industry is important to the country's economy, culture and tourism, and it is also important from a rural perspective. If one picks up an in-flight magazine when flying into Ireland, one will see therein an advertisement for an Irish greyhound stadium showing its services and potential. That is true recognition of the importance of the industry to the country.

Approximately 10,000 people are employed, either directly or indirectly, in the greyhound industry in Ireland. The wage bill is estimated to be approximately €207 million and the tax contribution from this employment is estimated at €21 million. Employment in the industry is not confined to one or two areas; it is spread throughout the country. I am pleased that the regional dispersion in terms of the availability of greyhound stadia has spread to Lifford in my constituency, where one of the 17 stadia is located. These 17 tracks are under the ownership of the greyhound industry in every county. Race meetings generate significant levels of expenditure and economic activity each week in rural towns, and greyhound owners make a significant contribution to economic activity through the purchase of various goods and services to maintain ownership. The industry generates activity and employment in rural areas which would not happen in the absence of this important element of indigenous industry.

Between 2002 and 2010 some 18,200 race meetings were held in Ireland, attended by 10.25 million people. This provides some background to the importance of the industry. The greyhound stadia in the country generate approximately €500,000 in revenue on an annual basis for each of the areas they serve. Given the current economic climate, the industry is vital together with returns from the bookmakers, which benefit from and provide a service to the greyhound industry.

The passage of the Dog Breeding Establishments Act in 2010 followed agreement reached at the highest level in government between the then Taoiseach and the then Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, John Gormley. While the Green Party had its agenda at the time, few of us bought into it. The proposal was impractical in terms of the potential the industry had for rural Ireland and to sport within Ireland. It was believed at the time that the Greyhound Industry Act 1958, although outdated, could be updated to reflect the animal welfare needs of the greyhound industry and could be dealt with as separate legislation from that being brought forward to regulate puppy farms and so on.

As the Minister of State has remarked, this legislation will address the need to register breeding establishments with the Irish Coursing Club under the supervision of local authorities. Minimum standards will be set for establishments and this will require adequate tracking mechanisms and record-keeping. The Minister of State has set this out and it is outlined in the legislation as well.

The Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 served to regulate dogs, puppy farms and so on. As the Minister of State mentioned, following consultation it was agreed that the best way to regulate the greyhound industry would be by stand-alone legislation. Several options were available to the current Minister and the previous Minister with regard to which way, if any, the industry should be regulated. The first option was to do nothing, in other words to leave the industry as it was or to cover it until the Dog Breeding Establishments Act was passed. This was not a realistic option given the political agreement reached between the Taoiseach, the Minister for Finance and the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. The second option was to combine other legislation with the greyhound racing Act 2010 which, I understand, is being drafted. Will the Minister of State provide an update on that separate legislation? The third option was stand-alone legislation and this is what the Minister of State is bringing forward. This is the most sensible mechanism to deal with the matter. One benefit to the taxpayer is that this is cost-neutral.

We all subscribe to animal welfare and there is a need to protect animals in every sector of Irish agriculture. This applies not only in the greyhound industry, which provides so much of the economic development and potential of the country, but elsewhere. The template adopted in this country in terms of greyhound racing, the stadia and the sport could be replicated in other countries. We should be proud of the achievements of the Irish greyhound industry, including the large number of people who walk dogs early in the morning and late in the evening. In many cases, the individuals in question volunteer to do this work. We should be proud of their achievements because they are sporting achievements. Whether located in the middle of Dublin, Cork or County Donegal, greyhound stadia are available to members of the public, many of whom are not aware of the work that is done to bring dogs to racing condition.

I subscribe to the objective of protecting greyhounds, as set out in the legislation. My party fully supports the Bill and looks forward to early enactment following its passage through the Seanad. I hope it will be passed at the earliest possible date to give effect to the commitment given in the 2010 Act. I am pleased the Minister of State is before the House and look forward to Committee Stage.

Michael Comiskey (Fine Gael)
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I am pleased to speak on the Welfare of Greyhounds Bill 2011 and welcome the Minister of State on this, the second or third occasion he has appeared before the House.

It is important that the greyhound industry, like all industries, is regulated. The enactment of this legislation will ensure greyhounds are protected from undesirable treatment. By way of background, the Bill was initiated on 13 December 2010 by the previous Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Brendan Smith. The legislation before us has been set the same objective as the 2010 Bill, namely, to enhance the welfare of greyhounds, particularly through the regulation of greyhound breeding and greyhound breeding establishments. Under the Bill, which was discussed in the Dáil on 13 June, the Irish Coursing Club is required to establish a register of greyhound breeding establishments. A series of public consultations took place at the drafting stages and the then Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food consulted the Irish Greyhound Board, Irish Coursing Club and representatives of the welfare sector on the proposed legislation.

The new Bill contains some minor changes from the 2010 Act. One of the main changes is the introduction of a provision requiring the Irish Greyhound Board to publish and take representations on any proposed amendments to the code of practice for the welfare of greyhounds in the same way as it must publish and take representations on a new code of practice. In a second significant change, section 26 provides that penalties for offences will be class A fines rather than fines not exceeding €5,000. The Fines Act specifies a table of fines to be used where the Oireachtas imposes monetary penalties to allow for more efficient revision of fines to reflect changes in the value of money over time.

The Bill complements the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010. In 2010, at a meeting of the then Joint Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Bord na gCon provided a short overview of the greyhound industry. I will recap on some of the main points to give Senators a clear view of the economic value of the greyhound industry. There are 17 greyhound stadia in the Republic, of which nine are directly owned by Bord na gCon and eight privately owned. Approximately 11,000 people derive employment, both direct and indirect, from the greyhound industry which is responsible for economic turnover valued at €500 million. In 2010, the industry received €11.8 million via the horse and greyhound fund and during that period it returned €5.5 million to the Government in direct and indirect taxes. It must be recognised that the greyhound industry has been extremely successful in helping various clubs, social groups, schools and good causes to raise money through the use of its stadia. There are multiple tourism benefits relating to the industry which attracts many visitors to Ireland. We hear of people who go on outings and many different parties go for a "night at the dogs", where they can enjoy good food in the stadia. That is excellent.

I shall now address the content of the Bill, which comes in five parts. The first part concerns the registration of greyhounds. The second deals with the general welfare of greyhounds and states that Bord na gCon will be responsible for the establishment of a code of practice under section 6 of the Bill. This will be for the purpose of providing practical guidance relating to the welfare of greyhounds and related matters.

Section 6(5) states:

Before establishing or adopting or amending a code of practice the Board shall----- (a) publish on the internet a draft of the proposed code or amendment and shall give persons one month from the date of the publication to make written representation to the Board

Specific welfare standards are covered in section 7 of the Bill and these are important to ensure the general welfare of greyhounds. For example, this section sets out:

(1) A person who keeps, trades in, transports, breeds, rears, trains, races or courses a greyhound shall ensure that—

(a) the greyhound is kept at all times in accommodation that is suitable as respects construction, size of quarters, number of occupants, exercise facilities, temperature, lighting, ventilation and cleanliness

The section also sets out that the greyhound should have suitable diet, adequate exercise and that appropriate measures should be in place for the greyhound in the case of emergency.

The scope of the Bill also covers regulations regarding welfare and related matters. Section 8 of the Bill provides that: "The Minister may, after consultation with the Board and the Club, by regulations, make provision for the protection and enhancement of the health, welfare and the care of greyhounds". The scope of the proposed additional provision can cover food, materials utilised for the housing of greyhounds and supervision and maintenance of the premises where greyhounds are housed.

Importantly, section 9 caters for the making of regulations regarding the identification and traceability of the greyhound, by means of a tattoo, document or electronic means. It is important to have an effective and efficient tracing mechanism for all animals in the industry. This is in no way different to the tagging of sheep or cattle in the agricultural industry.

I move to Part 3 which covers greyhound breeding. There are strict restrictions in this area. It is an offence to allow a female greyhound to give birth more than six times during her lifetime unless section 11(c) applies, whereby a veterinary practitioner specifies that the pregnancy and birth do not present a risk to the health or welfare of the female. A certificate to this effect must be lodged at the Irish Coursing Club.

Section 12 provides for the establishment of a register of greyhound breeding establishments and states, "Where a person proposes to operate a greyhound breeding establishment, he or she shall, in accordance with this section, apply to the Club to have the premises at which it is proposed to operate the greyhound breeding establishment registered in the register".

The nature of the legislation is retrospective, as section 12(3) stipulates:

A person who, immediately before the commencement of this section, was operating a greyhound breeding establishment shall, if he or she wishes to continue operating the establishment after such commencement, apply not later than 3 months after such commencement, to the Club to have the establishment registered in the register.

All greyhound breeding establishments should be treated in the same manner.

The Irish Coursing Club may refuse to register premises under section 12 of the Bill. Grounds for refusal may include the commission by an applicant of an offence under the Act, an offence including cruelty to an animal or, for example, the contravention by the applicant of the Protection of Animals Acts 1911 and 1965. It is noteworthy that the applicant must have an opportunity to submit a representation to the club before a decision to refuse to register a premises for greyhound breeding establishment can be made.

Rónán Mullen (Independent)
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I welcome the Minister of State. Tá fáilte roimhe. Tá an-áthas orm go bhfuil an Bille seo os ár gcomhair. Thacaigh mé leis an Bille eile, a bhí an Comhaontas Glas freagrach as, anuraidh. I ndáiríre, tá an-creidiúint le tabhairt dóibh as ucht an cheist seo a ardú. Tá sé tábhachtach go bhfuil an Bille os ár gcomhair inniu.

I supported what became the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 when it was the subject of a passionate debate in the previous Seanad. I recall that a number of Fine Gael Senators at the time were extremely concerned with regard to certain aspects of that legislation. I am still of the view that great credit is due to the Green Party which was then in government for the initiative it showed in introducing the legislation to which I refer. To some degree, the Green Party, when it brought forward that legislation, ran the gauntlet of people who live in rural areas. I am very proud of the fact that I originally come from such an area. I have always been of the opinion that animal welfare should never take second place. I grew up on a farm and we always tried to operate to the highest standards. I am glad Ireland has changed so much over the years. In the past it was a place where animals were often not respected and were cruelly treated by people who were otherwise very compassionate and decent. For many years there was an ignorance with regard to the dignity of all of creation and the proper respect that is due in the context of the welfare of animals. This is not a matter of animal rights. I do not have a great sympathy with the latter term. I am of the view that animals have dignity. The problem with regard to cruelty to animals is not so much that their rights are being violated, rather it is the effect treating creation in such a wantonly cruel way has on human beings.

I am satisfied that this Bill will fit well into the body of legislation relating to this area that is already in existence. There is no question but that further legislation will be required in respect of the protection of general animal welfare. I look forward to such legislation coming before the House in the near future.

In contrast to the troubling accounts regarding unregulated and so-called "puppy farms" which surfaced during the debate on what became the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010, the position that obtains in respect of greyhound breeding is obviously markedly different. Greyhound breeders strive to breed high-quality greyhounds to win races. In the context of greyhound breeding, therefore, quality rather than quantity is of paramount importance. It is obvious that we are starting from a different place in respect of this matter.

It has been stated that the greyhound industry is extremely important to this county and that, directly and indirectly, it is responsible for sustaining 11,000 full and part-time jobs. The fact that these jobs are mainly located in rural communities makes the industry all the more important as far as I am concerned. The industry provides an estimated €500 million to local economies through the tracks that are spread throughout the country. The greyhound breeding industry is also successful and many greyhounds currently running in races in the UK are Irish bred. We have begun to emulate the success of the Irish bloodstock industry by ensuring that the country has become identified as a centre of excellence for the breeding of greyhounds. Bord na gCon is to be congratulated on the work it has done in the context of revitalising what was a flagging industry. At a time when greyhound tracks in the UK are being closed, life has been injected into our industry and attendances are on the rise at redeveloped tracks throughout the country. As a result of successful advertising and rebranding, an evening at the dogs is now seen as an enjoyable way to socialise and entertain friends.

The Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010, to which I referred earlier, seeks to ensure the observance of proper standards of animal welfare in dog breeding establishments. When the House debated that legislation, the point was made that it would be more appropriate to introduce a separate Bill to regulate the position with regard to animal welfare within the greyhound industry. It was correctly acknowledged that the greyhound industry already has a system of self-regulation in place, which included certain provisions on welfare. The separate legislation was introduced in order to provide a regime for greyhound welfare; whereas the objective is similar to that of previous legislation, the approach taken is, if anything, more rigorous and strict in its application of oversight and controls on the breeding of greyhounds, which is to be welcomed. The different bodies involved have agreed with the need for separate legislation to regulate all aspects of welfare throughout the greyhound industry, and to therefore protect this country's reputation in respect of the care of greyhounds. It is not just a matter of looking out for animal welfare, as important as that is, but it is also important to look out for Ireland's reputation. I congratulate the Minister of State and the previous Administration for the consultation which led to this legislation.

I am strongly of the opinion that it was both right and proper to distinguish this industry from so-called puppy farming, and that is why I welcome this separate legislation. The scrutiny required of greyhound breeders is of a high level, and this is welcomed by the vast majority of reputable breeders across the country who are committed to breeding high-quality racing greyhounds. This has always been an industry which has been committed to quality over quantity. As I mentioned, the industry already has a system of self-regulation in place that can be readily adapted for welfare purposes, and the Bill uses this as its starting point.

The welfare requirements specified in the Bill on animal keepers to safeguard animals in their care are in addition to the general provisions relating to cruelty in the Protection of Animals Act 1911 and the amending legislation of 1965. Greyhounds not registered in the stud book cannot be covered by the scope of the Bill but will continue to be covered by general animal welfare legislation, which is important. The provisions of the Bill apply to all greyhounds in the stud book but there is great merit in establishing a register of greyhound breeding establishments. These are premises at which not fewer than four greyhound bitches are kept, each of which is more than 15 months old and has been or is being used for breeding. The scope of the Bill extends to all greyhounds in the industry and not only those found on a premises registered as a greyhound breeding establishment.

The Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 provided for what before now was an unregulated industry, with no existing system relating either to the registration of individual dogs for stud book purposes or the registration of premises on which they are kept. The regulation of this industry envisages a comprehensive scrutiny regime and grants a wide range of powers to welfare officers, allowing them to specify various items in welfare notices, which is also welcome. The provisions will not present any difficulty to the vast majority of individuals who take due cognisance of welfare requirements, have proper premises and who operate their business in co-operation with local veterinary practice. A welcome aspect of this Bill is that a greyhound bitch will not be allowed to breed until she is 15 months, compared with a stipulation of six months in the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010.

A limit will also be placed on the number of litters a bitch can produce, which reflects the need for quality over quantity which I mentioned earlier. Last year we had similar conversations about these kinds of concepts, with some Senators warning that we were in danger of legislating our way back into the bedroom. It is important that this kind of detail be dealt with for the sake of animal welfare.

I will discuss some of the real economic and employment benefits from the industry. In 2009, Bord na gCon - a semi-State body responsible for the control and development of the industry in Ireland - received €13.6 million in Government subsidies and in 2010 it received €11 million. I believe it is now seeking €15 million to develop a business venture in China, where it intends to build racing stadia and infrastructure, which could be a very valuable new opportunity to expand the employment provided by the industry. I call on the Minister to fully commit to any necessary supports for this vital source of employment in rural areas. As the Minister of State is aware, the industry is located at the heart of rural communities and provides employment for families and a wide variety of other individuals.

It is important that we continue to assess and champion the work being done. There are exciting possibilities for the greyhound industry, and I have mentioned the possibility of exporting animals to China and elsewhere. We should research this fully and support such initiatives. As I noted in a previous debate on the closure of Army barracks, balanced regional development should be a key goal of this Government as the country weathers the recession. We should not lose sight of the enormous damage which can be inflicted upon rural communities as a result of the loss of jobs not easily replaced. As a small investment by the Government can often safeguard and secure existing jobs in the rural and regional economy, that investment ought to be made. It is a case of a stitch in time saves nine.

Government support of Bord na gCon provides the basis for the operation of the industry and what the Government and society get in return is the provision of 10,000 jobs, mainly in rural areas. If these jobs were lost, they would be gone forever and the workers affected would have to leave rural areas to find alternative employment, in the process destroying communities and making a mockery of all our attempts at balanced regional development. Ireland is regarded as a world class player in dog breeding and there must be significant potential to exploit this reputation further. It can become an even more significant export industry than has been the case and the Irish industry model can be transferred to other countries, as I noted. This aspect is being investigated and developed. The Government continuously repeats the mantra of export-led recovery; it should support that process.

I welcome the Bill and the provisions it contains. I commend the previous Minister and the Minister of State for the work being done and I am delighted the legislation has come this far. Let us highlight the importance of the greyhound industry and the people involved for their work and efforts. In ensuring the highest standards in welfare of animals we will safeguard the future of the industry. The vast majority of those involved in it would not be able to continue to operate if the welfare of animals was not the first priority in rearing, training and racing greyhounds. This is a win-win for animal welfare, a noble aim in its own right, as well as for our reputation abroad in ensuring the industry continues to thrive.

Denis Landy (Labour)
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I welcome the Minister of State. I do not intend to go back over the statistics so eloquently mentioned by other Members. It is important that this legislation has been published, as opposed to its measures being lumped in with others included in the previous legislation. There are two separate issues: the greyhound industry and the welfare of dogs are different matters. I commend the consultation with various agencies, including the Irish Coursing Club, the Irish Greyhound Board, Veterinary Ireland, the Dog Trust and the Association of City and County Managers. I have said to every Minister that where an issue is relevant to local authorities and their members, their organisation should be consulted. The executives of the organisations mentioned may be consulted but the elected members of county councils are not. Perhaps it is not yet too late to seek their input.

This is good legislation which I commend to the House. However, it is not perfect. There are a couple of issues on which I would like the Minister of State to comment.

Senator Rónán Mullen spoke about the greyhound industry and its importance to rural Ireland. It is of great importance, as I will highlight through a little story. Last Sunday week I was at a point to point meeting in Kilsheelan, outside Clonmel. The first man I met was a retired farmer who had come back from coursing a dog in Thurles and was waiting to see a horse trained by Ted Walsh. That horse won on the day at odds of 4/6. The next person I met was an unemployed young man. As we were going out the gate and he got into his car, he said he was heading home to get a dog ready to run in Clonmel that night. That takes in both ends of the generational divide. The two men were sustained in their lives by their involvement in the dog industry in one way or another. That is more important than any economic benefit in the current economic climate, when people are on their knees financially, because there is something to cling on to. It is a special community. I am lucky enough to live in a part of the country that is home to dogs, Carrick-on-Suir. The famous saying about Carrick-on-Suir is that it is known for a dog or a man. My father bred greyhounds and I have been involved in many syndicates during the years, in which I have had very little luck. However, I have an innate knowledge of and interest in the industry.

What is being introduced is very good and has been well thought out. The provisions dealing with the amounts of litters, the age of bitches and the use of the stud book, as well as stipulating that a breeding premises should have four or more bitches, are very important. Somebody mentioned seeing people walking one or two dogs in the morning and evening; that is the lifeblood of many involved in the industry. In my home town of Carrick-on-Suir there is an unemployment rate of 18% and practically every second house has a dog or two, with a bitch breeding or yelping down a litter for a neighbour. It is extremely important, therefore, not to be heavy-handed and inflict registration fees on those who cannot afford it. A happy balance has been struck in the legislation.

I have a couple of questions, the first of which relates to section 15 which deals with the removal of greyhound breeding establishments from the register. It deals with people who have, in one way or another, breached the terms of legislation. As I read it, there is no provision in the Bill to remove the offenders permanently from the industry, which is extremely important. It is important to safeguard the industry and its reputation while sending a strong signal to the very small minority of breeders who do not perform their functions properly. It will stop them in their tracks. We come across such people in all walks of life who just do not obey the law. We often see it in horse-related industries in which some horses can endure misery. In the horse racing industry there are provisions to ban people from engaging in further activity within the industry. I suggest the Minister of State consider taking similar action in this section.

Section 17 indicates that local authorities may appoint welfare officers. In the main, local authorities do not have the wherewithal or resources to employ extra staff because of the requirement to keep staff numbers as they are. Under the Control of Dogs Act, they employ dog wardens. I ask the Minister of State to extend the role of the dog warden in order that he or she would act as the welfare officer for the greyhound industry within the geographical area of the local authority concerned. That would be a good and sensible piece of work. The Minister of State responded to this issue in the Lower House in which he made the point that the amount of work required to be done by the local authority would be minimal as the officers of the Greyhound Board and the Irish Coursing Club already dealt with the matter.

Section 17 also indicates that the steward of the Irish Coursing Club may appoint extra officers. This, again, highlights a difficulty as all organisations are trying to cut back on staff numbers. I suggest we use existing officers of the Irish Coursing Club. Their job is to mark new litters and have registration books started and their role could be extended to include the inspectorate functions within the remit of this legislation. That would be a sensible move and easily done. It would ensure the legislation, when enacted, would not lead to the Irish Coursing Club complaining that it did not have enough money to employ extra officers. We must be careful in this regard. We all want to see this good legislation being implemented, although it must be tweaked a little to introduce an element of common sense to ensure it will work.

Averil Power (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the Minister of State and join my Fianna Fáil colleagues in supporting the Bill. Greyhound racing is a fine sport which, as Senator Ó Domhnaill mentioned, makes a significant contribution to the economy. It is also a great night out at a reasonable cost, which is an important point to remember in the current economic environment.

As has been pointed out in the debate so far, the industry is generally pretty well regulated and, on the whole, has a good record. This legislation, while building and improving on the self-regulation that has existed, will help to safeguard the reputation of the Irish greyhound industry at home and abroad while ensuring the animals are properly treated. I support the Bill.

I take the opportunity, while the Minister of State is here, to draw the attention of the House to several other animal welfare issues. First, I highlight the delay of the Government in enforcing the new legislation to deal with puppy farms, the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010, which was brought through both Houses some time ago but has not yet been signed into law by the Minister, Deputy Hogan. I understand TV3 is broadcasting a special report on puppy farms tonight - Members will have seen the advertisements - and I commend TV3 for keeping a spotlight on the issue. There is no doubt that the majority of people who breed dogs see to their welfare, look after them properly and would not dream of doing them any harm, but unfortunately there are also people who could not care less about the animals that are in their custody, not only neglecting their basic needs but sometimes inflicting incredible cruelty on the defenceless animals they are supposed to care for.

There are reports on the ISPCA website, which I read earlier, which highlight cogently and emotionally the reality of unregulated puppy farms. An ISPCA worker reflects, based on his own experience, "The heartbreak of seeing such [sociable] animals as dogs locked in confined cages/pens, never let out to sit in the sun, never exercised, withering emotionally till they [lose] all interest in living is too much to accept." He speaks of seeing puppies, at puppy farms that he has visited over the years with the ISPCA, with flea-infested coats, with backsides encased in excrement, trying to suckle from mothers whose teats are covered in filth. The worst part of his account is the description of the fear that such animals display. He says that because they have never been socialised or handled gently, they cower and freeze when lifted, expecting the worst. Some never recover, as the Minister of State will be aware, from the time they spend in puppy farms.

I adopted a dog from a rescue centre five years ago. I do not know what its history is - one does not know, when one gets a dog from a rescue centre, what its history is - but when I brought him home he was petrified with fear and would cower if anyone went anywhere near him. Now, although he is generally very happy, he still freaks out and gets scared by the slightest noise. No matter how much one looks after and trains a rehomed dog or reassures it there is nothing to be afraid of, many animals will live with the scars of their experience for ever.

The legislation was passed in the House a long time ago, and the delays in commencing the Act are inexcusable. I understand the thinking of the Government, which is that it wanted to wait so that it could be introduced with the Bill we are discussing today, but that is illogical and unnecessary. As we have noted, the greyhound industry in general has good standards and this Bill merely supplements those, but puppy farming in general is unregulated, and I do not see why we could not have commenced the Dog Breeding Establishments Act much earlier. I urge the Minister to ensure it is implemented straight away.

I also take the opportunity to raise the need for the promised animal health and welfare Bill, which I know is on the Government's agenda as it is mentioned in the programme for Government and the legislative programme. It needs to be introduced as soon as possible. Work on this Bill has been ongoing in the Department for years. The last Government started the process of updating legislation that is 100 years old. Under the Protection of Animals Act 1911 - which was amended in part in 1965, but much of it is 100 years old - the maximum fine for somebody who mistreats a horse, a dog or any other animal to an intolerable extent is £25. Obviously, that is not an incentive to behave responsibly. We need to introduce modern legislation with appropriate penalties.

In addition to legislation, we need greater public information on how to treat animals properly. Sometimes one meets people who think they are doing the right thing with their animals. Much mistreatment is by people who genuinely care for their dogs but fall prey to myths about what is good for them. People say it is cruel not to allow a female dog to have at least one litter, but do not think about where the pups will end up - in many cases they will have to be put down, and if not, they will go on to have other unwanted puppies. The scandal of the number of puppies that are put down here is something we have never really faced. There are groups such as Spay Ireland which do incredible work and have managed in recent years to bring down the number of healthy dogs being put down from 30,000 to 6,000. They have made incredible progress, but there are still 6,000 dogs in good health being put down every year.

We need to make potential dog owners more aware of their responsibilities. The Government, when considering the animal health and welfare Bill, should look to the case of Switzerland, which, as well as having some of the best animal legislation in the world, has detailed codes for looking after different types of animal and to guide people who are making a decisions about whether to bring home a dog, a cat or another animal. From my experience, dogs are extremely expensive, which many people are not aware of when they take them home. It is not just the cost of food but the cost of veterinary care and accommodation for the dog if one wants to go on holidays, for instance. People need to be fully aware of that and prepared for the costs involved before they bring an animal home.

The Government must be prepared to set aside money for every pet to be microchipped. I know this Bill deals with tattooing of animals in the greyhound industry, and the Dog Breeding Establishments Act will ensure that dogs are microchipped in official breeding establishments. However, we need to microchip every dog. The cost is minuscule compared to the cost of keeping a dog properly. This should be required for every dog so that it can be found if it goes astray. Dogs can be registered online at fido.ie; if a dog is found, a vet can upload the microchip number so that the dog can be reclaimed straight away. However, microchipping is also important in preventing cruelty. If an animal is found abandoned at the side of the road or mistreated, a vet can tell straight away whom it is registered to.

The lack of funding for the animal welfare charities here should be addressed, although I appreciate that the Government does not have spare cash sitting around. We also need to examine the licence fee and consider that most people who care for animals would be happy to pay a bit more knowing that money was being set aside for ISPCA and for dog wardens to look after animals that have been cast aside.

I fully support the Bill before the House. I urge the Minister of State to ensure the Dog Breeding Establishments Act is commenced by asking the Minister, Deputy Hogan, to sign the necessary orders to allow its enforcement. I also ask the Government to introduce more general animal health and welfare legislation.

Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)
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How much time do I have?

Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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Eight minutes.

Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)
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Are there more colleagues who wish to speak?

Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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The Minister will be called to reply at 5.20 p.m.

Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)
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I will be aware of that and will try to facilitate my colleagues.

Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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We will try to accommodate all the Members.

Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister of State, who I know has a great interest in this area. This Bill will have gone through the House-----

Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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Is the Senator sharing time?

Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)
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I wish to share my time with Senator Pat O'Neill.

This Bill will be passed in the House, the Dog Breeding Establishment Bill was passed but is not yet in action, and the animal health and Welfare Bill is yet to be introduced to the House. When those three Bills are passed there will be a significant body of legislation to protect animals and see to their welfare. I will strongly support it. If we had the same level of support for elderly people and children we would have a better society.

I recall very strenuous debate in this House on the Dog Breeding Establishments Bill. At a time when the country was going down the tubes financially, economically and politically 18 months ago, it was amusing that one of the biggest difficulties in the Government was the inclusion of greyhounds in the Bill. There was a rumour that one Deputy or another was going to bring down the Government over the greyhound issue but eventually the former Minister, Mr. John Gormley, appeared to back down and it was decided to separate greyhounds from the broader scheme of the legislation. It was a wise move because most of what the Government was trying to put in place under the Dog Breeding Establishments Bill already applied to the greyhound industry. The people who monitor, control and manage the greyhound industry, to the maximum degree possible, ensure the highest standards of care and welfare for their animals.

I listened with interest to my colleagues on this debate. There has been a great depth of knowledge among all speakers who have contributed. We need to constantly assert that the greyhound industry is not just a sport or pastime but a strong generator of economic activity in rural and urban Ireland. Many people in small towns have greyhounds or are involved in syndicates. Many people benefit from the industry and a huge number of people contribute to it.

The Minister of State will be aware that last Saturday night in Cork was the final of the Laurels. A huge crowd attended, as they do every year. Set piece occasions when thousands of people come together to watch a greyhound race illustrate the strength of the industry. The future funding of the industry and the horse and greyhound fund is up for debate. We must continue to try to financially support a sport that pays for itself time and again.

The Minister of State is getting the balance right in this Bill. I acknowledge the hard work he has done on liaising with various stakeholders. A number of concerns were related to us by constituents in regard to the inspection process and the limits on breeding. I trust we will tease those issues out on Committee Stage. The current inspection levels in the industry are substantial and I look forward to hearing on Committee Stage from the Minister of State about the additional measures planned, and about which people are concerned.

Senator Power made some valid points about animal welfare. I agree with what she said about the dog licence fee. I may be straying outside the Bill. Sadly, too many people seem to be unaware or do not care about the cost of keeping animals. We saw horrific cases last winter where there were unwanted horses. In conjunction with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and local authorities, we must try to put in place and fund a scheme whereby local authorities will be in a position to respond to people who have unwanted dogs, horses or other animals. Animals should be removed from the people who can no longer care for them. It will be expensive but it is something that Minister of State might take on board given the horror stories last winter. We have a cold economic climate as well as cold weather. People find it difficult to come up with the money to look after animals at the proper level, something which needs to be attended to. I look forward to contributing to the debate on Committee Stage.

The balance of the Bill is as correct as the Minister of State can make it. When we were on the other side of the House we wanted to separate the greyhound industry from broader animal welfare issues and that has been done. I look forward to the Bill coming into law and the Dog Breeding Establishments Bill being implemented. Puppy farms continue to be a scandal, as they were 12 months or two years ago.

Pat O'Neill (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister of State to the House and the Bill. As my colleagues and the Minister of State have mentioned, the greyhound industry has contributed €500 million to the economy. It is also worth noting that greyhound stadia offer facilities to schools, clubs and social causes for fundraising activities, which has helped to generate €7 million for such organisations. The Welfare of Greyhounds Bill provides for the welfare of greyhounds as well as the regulation of breeding establishments. The Bill addresses the concerns of the Irish Coursing Club and Bord na gCon about the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 by creating legislation which is distinctly related to the greyhound industry.

The Welfare of Greyhounds Bill is not about the Government imposing rules on a successful industry. It is simply recognising the existing levels of regulation and control currently employed in the industry and ensuring that standards are met. As Mr. Barry Coleman, welfare officer of the Irish Greyhound board said, 99% of owners are top quality people who care about their animals. They are often rural people and sometimes care more about their animals than about themselves

In section 7 of the second Part of the Bill the welfare standards for greyhounds are set out. This section states that greyhounds must have decent and clean living quarters, suitable food and bedding and be adequately exercised. For most owners these things are given in the care of their dogs. The Welfare of Greyhounds Bill strives to ensure that those who mistreat animals and damage the reputation of the Irish greyhound industry by mistreating animals are made accountable. I welcome this measure.

In creating a better environment for dogs we can boost our reputation for quality internationally by ensuring that high standards are met in the care of Irish greyhounds. The establishment of welfare officers, which are drawn from local authorities' dog and veterinary services, Bord na gCon and the Irish Coursing Club, is a welcome move. Such people have deep knowledge of greyhounds and are the best people to ensure that standards of care are met. Protection of this valuable industry and of the animals is of paramount importance and I join my colleagues in calling on members of the Seanad to support the Bill.

David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)
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I am last out of the traps. I welcome the Minister of State to the House and the Bill. I would welcome any Bill which enhances and protects animal welfare.

I join other speakers in acknowledging the role of the industry in the economy and in cultural life, as Senator Ó Domhnaill mentioned. My city, Waterford, has an excellent greyhound track. Many people, as previous Senators have done, give up their time and love the sport in which they are involved. It is part of life for them. We are dealing with a small minority of people who do not treat dogs in the correct manner.

The vast majority of trainers, owners and breeders care for their dogs, there is no question about that, but unfortunately a minority see their dogs as little more than a commodity to be expended once their breeding or racing lives have come to an end. This Bill is welcome as it seeks to deal with the sharp end of the greyhound business. Often greyhound bitches are bred time and again in the search for a champion. I welcome the fact that contained within the Bill is a clause which means that greyhounds can only produce six litters or, in exceptional circumstances where a vet certifies that pregnancy and birth do not represent a risk to the health and welfare of the bitch, there can be two additional litters.

I also welcome the fact that greyhounds cannot be bred until the age of 15 months. The Bill also puts in place stronger checks for kennels to provide suitable accommodation, food, drink, bedding material, exercise, inspections, medical welfare and protection in cases of emergency. I retain some concerns, especially around the issue of retiring greyhounds. The issue was debated in the Dáil.

The average greyhound comes into top speed between the ages of two and four. However, as we know, many live until they are 14 years of age and given their short racing life we need to protect the welfare of retired greyhounds. There are some greyhound refuges in Ireland but more needs to be done to ensure greyhounds are looked after. I support Senator Landy's call to ensure local authorities are adequately equipped and resourced to have enough welfare officers to carry out inspections and ensure proper enforcement of this Bill, if passed. He also made a reasonable proposal regarding dog wardens. Will the Minister consider giving extra resources to those areas where there is a proliferation of breeding, training and ownership of greyhounds?

Other related legislation will enhance animal welfare. There is, however, a need to see progress on the related dog breeding establishment legislation to ensure similar levels of welfare and care are granted not just to greyhounds but to all dogs. I look forward to seeing progress on the animal health and welfare Bill which will update the existing 1911 Act to the standards expected in this century.

If the Welfare of Greyhounds Bill is enacted, those in the industry have nothing to fear but everything to gain. If animal and greyhound welfare is at the heart of the industry, the majority of breeders and owners can only benefit. I commend the Bill.

Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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I compliment the Minister of State on the consultation process in which he engaged before introducing this Bill. It is a far cry from the former Minister who introduced legislation in this House while completely unaware of other Acts that dealt with dog breeding. I also compliment Members on their informed debate on this subject.

On a separate issue, children under 18 cannot buy a lottery ticket or enter a bookies but they still can place bets at the Tote at dog tracks. While I am not a killjoy – I enjoy a bet myself – children being allowed to place a bet at a dog track will have to be addressed in forthcoming betting legislation.

Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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No legislation is perfect when first introduced and can be improved during debates. This legislation is centred on greyhound welfare and was introduced after consultation with all relevant parties.

Senator Cullinane spoke about the previous Government introducing greyhound welfare legislation. I always believed it marked the beginning of the end of that Government. It has been easy for me to introduce this legislation because there was consultation with interested and relevant parties. The greyhound industry is very regulated and is happy with this legislation. It has nothing to fear from this Bill which will actually strengthen it.

The greyhound industry is a fantastic business to be in. A night at the dogs is exciting with people coming to our tracks from all over the world. The upgrading of many of our smaller dog tracks is necessary to ensure they will be able to cater for many users such as hen and stag parties, although I should not refer to stags here. This legislation will ensure all greyhound owners are responsible for the dog until the end, a measure that will also ensure the quality of our greyhound stock.

I agree with Senators on the point about local authorities ensuring inspections. Regarding the calls for progress in other related legislation, there was a desire to get this Bill enacted first. I am pleased with the legislation's progress. It is flying through, like the greyhound Razzle Dazzle.

Averil Power (Fianna Fail)
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In fairness this legislation was first introduced in July 2010.

Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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It is a slow process – I know I have let Senator Power down on another matter as the person involved has gone away for three weeks – but at least it is being done right.

Senator Mullen referred to the Green Party legislation in this area. If it had listened to people rather than ramming its legislation down people's throats, it would have a representative here today. It started with a ban on stag hunting in my county. While the Ward Union still exists, the Green Party does not. I was disappointed the Green Party was given support from rural Fianna Fáil Deputies to introduce such legislation. The time is coming shortly when the Ward Union will be back under the legislation introduced by Michael D. Higgins in 1996. Not consulting people beforehand leads to attacks on rural life. This Bill was based on consultation.

This was an informed and constructive debate. The contributions have been very useful and I thank those Senators who took the time to examine this issue in advance or who have engaged with it today.

The greyhound industry makes a significant contribution to the economy, providing much employment, especially in rural areas where alternative employment may not be readily available. Greyhound racing and coursing are popular throughout the country and bring together both rural and urban enthusiasts. The greyhound breeding industry is successful in export earnings, with approximately 75% of the greyhounds now racing in the UK being Irish bred. Greyhound racing also attracts a large number of visitors to Ireland from overseas and in this regard a night at the dogs provides excellent entertainment.

This Bill arose from the debates surrounding the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010. Then it was emphasised that the greyhound industry already had a system of self-regulation and controls in operation which should be taken into consideration. It was concluded that separate welfare legislation was more appropriate for the greyhound industry and that such legislation should take cognisance of the well-established procedures which the Irish Coursing Club and Bord na gCon had in place.

Members are conscious of the public's concerns about animal welfare, particularly the welfare of dogs. In the case of greyhounds there are fewer problems involved with welfare than in the business known as puppy farming.

In drawing up the Welfare of Greyhound Bill 2011, my Department engaged with the various organisations concerned with the welfare of dogs. I believe this Bill addresses all the relevant issues raised by them.

I acknowledge the constructive manner in which Bord na gCon and the Irish Coursing Club engaged with the development of this legislation. In their view, this legalisation provides an appropriate framework in which to regulate welfare in the greyhound industry. They acknowledge that legislation which enhances greyhound welfare will ultimately protect and enhance this country's reputation in regard to the care of greyhounds.

I also thank the voluntary bodies and animal welfare groups concerned with dogs that have engaged in a positive manner and have indicated this legislation provides for the implementation of a good standard of welfare for greyhounds. Having taken on board all the various submissions, I am confident we have struck an adequate balance, thereby accommodating various points of view.

I emphasise again that the restriction this Bill places on the number of times greyhound bitches can be bred, as well as the prohibition on breeding under 15 months, are very significant factors in ensuring proper greyhound welfare. In the context of the scope of this Bill, greyhounds are defined as all greyhounds entered in the Irish greyhound stud book which is maintained by the Irish Coursing Club. All such greyhounds will be covered by the welfare provisions of this Bill throughout their lives, irrespective of the premises in which they are kept.

The welfare requirements specified in this Bill on greyhound keepers to safeguard greyhounds in their care are in addition to the general provisions relating to cruelty in the Protection of Animals Acts 1911 and 1965. Greyhounds which are not registered in the studbook cannot be covered by the scope of this Bill but will continue to be covered by general animal welfare legislation as well as the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010, where relevant. This Bill grants a wide range of powers to welfare officers-----

Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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I apologise for interrupting the Minister of State but I have to put the question.

Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I again thank the House for the various contributions. I hope that the success we have had in progressing this matter today can be kept up when we return shortly for Committee Stage. I look forward to discussing this issue again on that Stage.

Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister and officials for dealing with the Bill today.