Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

193. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the greyhound stadia in which the Jumping In The City series was held are fully compliant with their planning permission for the hosting and holding of such events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27352/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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 Greyhound Industry (Racing) Regulations 2007, S.I. 302 of 2007, which set out the detailed rules under which greyhound racing is conducted. Bord na gCon has assured me that Shelbourne Park, Curraheen Park, Cork and Limerick Greyhound Stadia were fully compliant with all planning permission rulings for hosting the Jumping in the City series.

Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

194. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide, in tabular form, for each year from 2011 to 2014 and for 2015 to date a schedule of the greyhounds that tested positive for illegal drugs; if he will separately identify those which were then dismissed by the control committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27353/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Bord na gCon is the statutory body responsible for the regulation and development of greyhound racing under the Greyhound Act 1958. The issue to which the Deputy refers is an operational matter for Bord na gCon. 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.

Under that legislation, full details of any laboratory findings can only be published at the conclusion of the proceedings by the Control Committee and the Control Appeals Committee. I understand from Bord na gCon that in all, a total of 147 sanctions were imposed on greyhounds that tested positive for banned substances in the period 2011 to 2015.

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 conducting 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 strengthen regulation so that the highest standards in relation to integrity are achieved.