Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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814. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will report on the number of greyhounds sold to China, and in particular to Macau Canidrome, from Ireland in the years 2013 to 2015 and to date in 2016; the measures he will introduce to halt this practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13377/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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While the export certification process of animals does not specify the breed of the animal, I can confirm that 2 greyhounds were exported to China in 2014 and a further nine were exported in 2016.  The position is that, once appropriate animal health and welfare certification requirements are met, dogs, including greyhounds, may be exported internationally.  Exporters are also required to comply with the provisions of Council Regulation (EC) No 1 of 2005 on the protection of animals during transport. 

Officials of my Department have recently met with Bord na gCon, the organisation which is responsible for the governance, regulation and development of the greyhound industry in Ireland, and with the welfare members of the International Greyhound Forum (represented by the ISPCA and the Dogs Trust) to consider the issues surrounding the export of greyhounds. Bord na gCon advises all owners involved in the export of greyhounds to only export to destinations that provide the expected levels of greyhound care and management as defined in the Code.  I fully endorse this view.