Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

33. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to support and implement the Welfare of Greyhounds (Amendment) Bill 2017 regarding the exports of greyhounds; his views on recent reports of up to 200 greyhounds being exported to Pakistan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20874/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Once animal health and welfare certification requirements are met, dogs, including greyhounds, may be exported from Ireland.  Exporters are required to comply with the provisions of Council Regulation (EC) No 1 of 2005 on the protection of animals during transport.

The export process does not differentiate between breeds of dogs, but information received to date from my Department's local offices indicates that no greyhounds were exported direct from Ireland to Pakistan during 2016 or to date in 2017. 

Commercial movements of dogs within the EU are recorded on the European Commission’s TRACES system.  Therefore my Department has access to the figures for exports of dogs to other EU Member States.  The Department does not have figures for the movements of dogs that are, for example, exported to the UK, the most significant destination for Irish dogs, and subsequently exported, possibly by a different owner, to a third country.  

Officials of my Department are currently examining the Deputy’s Welfare of Greyhounds (Amendment) Bill 2017.

Bord na gCon advises all owners of greyhounds to only export to destinations that provide the expected levels of greyhound care and management as defined in the IGB Code of Practice.  I fully endorse this view.