Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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1600. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will report on his recent meeting with the Irish Greyhound Owners and Breeders Federation; his plans for this industry; if his attention has been drawn to distressing reports of the sale of Irish greyhounds for the Chinese food market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26197/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Minister of State, Andrew Doyle, met with members of the IGOBF recently to discuss his plans for the industry. The Minister outlined the new legislation that is planned and the continued implementation of the Indecon recommendations.

Bord na gCon, which is responsible for the governance, regulation and development of the greyhound industry in the Republic of Ireland and the wellbeing of greyhounds, has developed a Code of Practice in relation to the welfare of greyhounds which sets out specific standards that all individuals engaged in the care and management of registered greyhounds are expected to meet. The Code emphasises that owners and keepers must take full responsibility for the physical and social well-being of greyhounds in line with best welfare practice. Oversight mechanisms in place regarding greyhound exports include inter-agency co-operation, co-operation with fellow members of International Greyhound Forums and intelligence/information which is received from Welfare Officers during the course of investigations carried out under the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011. Where any breaches of welfare standards are identified under the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011, Bord na gCon takes stringent actions and prosecutions ensue in accordance with the Act.

Earlier this year officials of my Department met with Bord na gCon and 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 with high animal welfare standards and that provide the expected levels of greyhound care and management as defined in the Code and I strongly endorse this view.