Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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324. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware that the Irish Coursing Club currently has registered three litters of greyhounds from a greyhound having her ninth litter, born here and registered with the Irish Coursing Club (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30156/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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As outlined in Parliamentary Question 26436/15 for answer on Tuesday 30th June, the ICC is subject to the general control and direction of Bord na gCon under Section 26(2) of the Greyhound Industry Act 1958 (the Act). Bord na gCon is a commercial State body, established under the Act and is the statutory body with responsibility for the improvement and development of the greyhound industry including greyhound racing and coursing. The Irish Coursing Club (ICC) is responsible for the identification and registration of Greyhounds in the Irish Greyhound Studbook. The Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011 specifies standards for greyhound welfare, establishes a register of Greyhound Breeding Establishments and regulates their operation. A Code of Practice in the care and welfare of the greyhound has been established and published by Bord na gCon as per the requirements of the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011. The primary objective of the Code of Practice is to set standards and clearly define what is expected of all individuals engaged in the care and management of registered greyhounds.

Greyhound welfare at Bord na gCon is managed by the Welfare Manager who can call upon three area stipendiary stewards and thirteen control stewards to conduct investigations of stray or mistreated greyhounds, conduct kennel inspections and investigate other welfare related incidents which have been reported to Bord na gCon. The Welfare Manager, all area stipendiary stewards and all control stewards have been appointed by Bord na gCon as Welfare Officers under the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011.

The limit on the number of litters a brood bitch may whelp is governed by Article 11 (3) of the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011.

These provisions are enforced in the following manner:

When a brood bitch is mated to produce a sixth litter, the breeder is informed at that time that they may only have a further two litters, provided the brood is certified by a veterinary surgeon as being fit to be mated. Breeders are further advised when they have reached the seventh litter stage.

The ICC has assured me that it is operating in compliance with the provisions of the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011, including provisions in relation to the registration of greyhounds in the studbook.

The ICC have informed me that greyhounds from the litters concerned were registered in the UK Studbook. The ICC have advised that as a solution a rule amendment is currently being prepared which stipulates that a litter born in Ireland must be registered in Ireland and cannot be accommodated in the UK stud book thereby preventing circumvention of Article 11 (3) of the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011.