Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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104. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views that it is appropriate that the Irish Greyhound Board has been deemed suitable for inclusion in a Bord Fáilte campaign, when there are many more deserving organisations and institutions which could benefit from the advertising boost that a Bord Fáilte campaign could offer, and that this organisation is millions of euro in debt, receives substantial Exchequer support and is riddled with drug testing scandals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18804/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Bord na gCon is a commercial state body, established in 1958, under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958, chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. Bord na gCon is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

I am informed that Bord na gCon’s marketing and commercial team work closely with Tourism Ireland to bring international visitors to greyhound stadia in Ireland. This is a very valuable source of income for BNG specifically and the industry generally and of course is entirely consistent with the policy of improving the contribution of greyhound racing to employment and the wider economy.

Bord na gCon will be devoting increased resources and time working with tour operators because clearly opportunities exist to increase the numbers of foreign visitors to greyhound stadia. A night at the dogs is a unique event for visitors to this country.

A night out in a greyhound stadium showcases the high levels of hospitality that Ireland is famous for, allowing the visitor to experience the best of Irish food produce, thereby supporting the broader indigenous food sector.

The greyhound industry clearly contributes significantly to tourism in Ireland and Bord na gCon is to be complimented for successfully identifying and developing this niche market among continental European visitors, in particular from Germany, France and the Netherlands.