Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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325. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Irish Greyhound Board will be allowed to continue to breach the legislation regarding eligibility of greyhounds running in events confined to puppies (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30157/15]

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. The question of referred to by the Deputy is an operational matter for Bord na gCon.

The Greyhound Industry (Racing) Regulations, S.I. 302 of 2007 set out the criteria in which Sweepstakes and Feature Events may be run at Licensed Stadia. Certain Events fall into the category of “Puppy” Events and the Article 17 (b) of the Racing Regulations Racing Regulations set out the definition of a Puppy as follows:-

“b) a greyhound shall be considered a puppy for a period of 24 months from and including the month of whelping.”

Bord na gCon has informed me that they have on occasion in the past advertised Puppy Events outside the age criteria as stipulated in the definition of a Puppy but has clearly indicated the entry requirements for such events in the Terms of Entry for such Sweepstakes. This is in line with further legislation that empowers BNG to set the conditions of entry for a race. Article 36 of the Greyhound Industry (Racing) Regulations 2007, governs the entry of all greyhounds raced at Licensed Stadia and states as follows;-

“(1) Every entry of a greyhound in a race at a licensed greyhound race track shall be subject to:—

( a ) these regulations,

( b ) any condition of entry which may be made from time to time by the race track executive with the permission of the Board, and

( c ) any directions which may be made from time to time by the Control Committee or the Board.”