Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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17. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on progress made in respect of the implementation of the recommendations contained in the Indecon Bord na gCon report published earlier this year, in particular the poor performance in relation to testing for doping of dogs and publication of the results; if he is satisfied that some of the recommendations will be implemented by the last quarter of 2014, as outlined in Bord na gCon's reply to the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48417/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Following the publication of the Indecon Report in July 2014, Bord na gCon submitted an action plan with timelines for implementing the 27 recommendations in the Indecon Report dealing with governance, finance, regulation and welfare. This action plan has been published on the Bord na gCon Website.

Bord na gCon has assured my Department that it has assiduously followed up on the undertakings included in its response to the Indecon Report and I am glad to report that it is "on track" to meet almost all of its Q4 2014 deadlines.

Positive test results for prohibited substances are referred by Bord na gCon to the independent Control Committee for consideration and deliberation with a view to deciding on sanctions where appropriate. A decision of the Control Committee can be appealed to the Control Appeals Committee, a process in which the appellant is entitled to due process. Cases differ, some are more complex and require more time in order to reach a conclusion.

The legislative basis for the publication of the findings of the Control Committee and the Control Appeals Committee is contained in Article 8(6) of the Greyhound Industry (Control Committee and Control Appeals Committee) Regulations 2007 (S.I. No. 301 of 2007) which states that Control Committee and the Control Appeals Committee shall publish its findings in all decisions in a manner it deems fit. Publication of results can be delayed due to the time taken to complete appeal procedures.

Bord nag Con has confirmed to me that it is currently involved in a public consultation process with stakeholders with a view to putting in place legislation which will enable the publication of details of all adverse findings after positive results have been returned by the laboratory and prior to consideration of such cases by the Control Committee. It is envisaged that the information to be published will include the identity of the greyhounds involved and the owners and trainers.

I am informed that Bord na gCon has recently, in a move towards greater transparency, confirmed a finding of positive results after the analytical phase and prior to the hearing at the Control Committee.  The complete details in relation to the owners and the greyhounds will be available when the Control Committee, and the Appeals Committee if appropriate, has concluded its deliberations in relation to findings which are upheld.

In the area of regulatory reform, Bord na gCon has:

- Embarked on a consultation process on regulatory reform whereby stakeholders may partake in this process through the Bord na gCon website.

- Commenced a review of Standard Operating Procedures in the areas of sampling at race night operations and also in regard to track maintenance and racetrack security.

- New policies and procedures are being formulated to underpin enhancements in a range of areas of regulation, welfare and engagement with stakeholders.

- Bord na gCon has launched a Review into Anti-Doping and Medication Control under the direction of an international expert in this area. Following the Review, Bord na gCon will consider amendments to legislation, modify practices and policies as appropriate, assess whether any improvements can be made to the current structures that are in place. The objective is to ensure that Bord na gCon will conform with the best international practices.

- Launched the first phase of off-track testing for prohibited substances by testing at trials

- Launched an online resource centre to facilitate the enhanced publication of testing information

- Commenced interviews with licence applicants with a view to attaching conditions to licences where necessary

- Commenced a process of information sharing with other regulatory bodies

- Commenced development of intelligence-led strategies in various areas, in particular Anti-Doping.

- Commenced a process to introduce mandatory penalties, including exclusion orders and disqualification orders, for breaches of regulations.

- Commenced regulatory reform concerning prohibited substances, and in particular is working on developing an improved regulatory definition of prohibited substance as well as a non-exhaustive list of prohibited substances.