Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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386. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he took to investigate allegations of wrongdoing within the Irish Greyhound Board, which were contained in a resignation letter from a member of the board (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28769/15]

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 understand that the correspondent in question referred to a range of issues in relation to regulation, finance and governance in Bord na gCon. My Department sought information from Bord na gCon in relation to a number of these issues, including in relation to a review of an incident at Dundalk Racecourse, which is published on its website.

On the question of Artificial Insemination, detailed rules governing the practice of the artificial insemination of greyhounds were set down in the Artificial Insemination of Greyhounds Regulations, 2005, (S.I. No. 561 of 2005), which were made by BNG under Section 39 of the Act. The Regulations included a two year limit on the use of semen for artificial insemination following the death of a stud dog, thereafter any unused semen had to be destroyed.

In March 2014, Bord na gCon invited industry stakeholders to submit proposals regarding the suitability of the Artificial Insemination of Greyhounds Regulations 2005 in the context of meeting current industry requirements.

After a detailed consideration of submissions received, Bord na gCon decided in September 2014, having consulted with the ICC, to remove the two year limit on the use of semen following the death of a stud greyhound. Arising from this decision, and with the consent of the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine, new regulations were introduced by Bord na gCon which came into effect on 1 November 2014 removing this two year limit on semen from an expired sire.

I am informed by Bord na gCon that in conjunction with the Irish Coursing Club they have carried out preliminary research and discussions with various experts in the areas of Quantitative Genetics, Animal & Bioscience Research and Canine Genetics on the specific aspects such as:

- Pedigree analysis of inbreeding levels and rate of accumulation of inbreeding in the Irish Greyhound

- Developing a breeding program to ensure long term gains while simultaneously managing genetic diversity

- The impact on the age of semen or age of semen donor on gene mutation rate.

Following on from this, I understand that Bord na gCon have commissioned a scientific study dealing with topics outlined above with a view to assisting the Board in relation to policy development in this area.

I should also say that at the time of receipt of the letter referred to, I had already commissioned a review by Indecon International Consultants into finance, regulatory, governance and welfare issues relating to Bord na gCon, and that process involved a stakeholder consultation process that sought and collected submissions from interested parties. Submissionsreceived were provided to the consultants for consideration and assessment in the context of carrying out the review and compiling the report.

The Indecon report has made a significant number of recommendations to improve the governance, regulatory and financial framework in Bord nag Con, which has published an action plan with an appropriate timetable, which I expect it to implement.