Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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75. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 29 of 14 May 2015, if all fines handed down for breaches to date have been paid; if he will provide details of actions taken by Bord na gCon in cases where greyhounds have tested positive for banned substances, but their owners have refused to pay the fines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20889/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Bord na gCon is the statutory body responsible for the regulation and development of greyhound racing under the Greyhound Act 1958. The Control Committee and the Control Appeals Committee of Bord na gCon are established under legislation (Greyhound Industry, Control Committee and Control Appeal Committee Regulations 2007, S.I. Number 301 of 2007 ). These committees have powers to determine appropriate fines for breaches of these Regulations.

The issue to which the Deputy refers is an operational matter for Bord na gCon.

Bord na gCon has informed me that to date they have uncollected fines to the sum of €27,767.50 and that prize money is not paid out to any individual who has outstanding unpaid fines.

I understand from Bord na gCon that in certain circumstances where delays in non–payment of fines persist, disciplinary action, as deemed appropriate, can be taken pursuant to the Greyhound Industry Act 1958 and SI 301/2007 – Greyhound Industry ( Control Committee and Control Appeal Committee) Regulations 2007.

Bord na gCon has informed me that it has engaged Professor Tim Morris (School of Veterinary Medicine &Science, University of Nottingham) to review Anti-doping and Medication Control including procedural matters. The review, which is being finalised, will make recommendations which will facilitate Bord na gCon in identifying any amendments that require to be made to legislation, practices and policies in this area.