Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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87. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 110 of 13 May 2015, if he will provide details of the laboratory used in the United Kingdom, including its name and the amount of samples that have been sent there to date; the decision-making process on the part of Bord na gCon as to which samples are sent to the United Kingdom for testing; the percentage of samples sent which returned positive findings for banned substances; the prohibited drugs that were identified in the samples sent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21054/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Bord na gCon is the statutory body responsible for the regulation of greyhound racing under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958. It has specific powers conferred on it by the Greyhound Industry (Racing) Regulations 2007, S.I. 302 2007, which set out the detailed rules under which greyhound racing is conducted. Bord na gCon is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

Bord na gCon has informed me that in addition to the Laboratory Services employed at the National Greyhound Laboratory in Limerick, they also engage with the drugs surveillance services of the Laboratory of Government Chemists (LGC) in the United Kingdom, which according to BNG, is one of the world’s premier independent drug surveillance laboratories, providing internationally trusted expertise in all aspects of doping control for sports. The LGC has extensive experience working with professionals in animal sports.

Bord na gCon has informed me that it operates an anti-doping control policy within an intelligence-led framework and that the strategy involved is confidential in the context of enhancing BNG’s ability to monitor and control this area effectively.

Bord na gCon has advised that a total of 128 samples have been sent to LGC since January 2015 and the findings are put before the Control Committee as part of due process and having regard to all of the circumstances in each case before a final determination is made.

As part of the ongoing regulatory reform, Bord na gCon has completed a public consultation process in relation to the possibility of publication of all adverse laboratory analytical findings at the time the report is received from the laboratory.  Legislative proposals required to give effect to such publication are currently being considered by Bord na gCon.

Bord na gCon has assured me of its ongoing commitment to a robust regulatory framework based on an intelligence-led strategy. I understand that Bord na gCon is currently finalising a comprehensive review of all aspects relating to integrity, including its sampling and analysis procedures for prohibited substances and medication control.

Following the review, Bord na gCon will consider amendments to legislation, modify practices and policies as appropriate, and assess whether any improvements can be made to the current anti-doping and medication control structures that are in place. The objective is to ensure that Bord na gCon will conform with the best international practice in this area.