Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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395. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has been informed of the fate of greyhounds once they leave the country; when the greyhound industry (amendment) Bill will be published; his plans to include an amendment to prevent the export of greyhounds to countries in which the welfare standards are below those here (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52953/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The draft General Scheme of the Greyhound Industry Bill has progressed through the pre-legislative scrutiny phase. It is hoped that a memorandum will go to Government in January, which will request approval to publish the updated General Scheme and to submit it to the Office of Parliamentary Counsel for drafting.

I fully endorse Bord na gCon’s (BnaG) advice to 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 its Code of Practice. Bord na gCon is responsible for the regulation of the greyhound industry and the well-being of greyhounds in Ireland.

I am aware of media reports alleging mistreatment of greyhounds. The position is that once animal health and welfare certification requirements, and the provisions of Council Regulation (EC) No 1 of 2005 on the protection of animals during transport, are met, dogs, including greyhounds, may be moved within the EU or exported to a non-EU country. Our records indicate that no greyhounds have been directly exported from Ireland to Asia to date in 2017. The main destination for Irish dogs and greyhounds moved abroad continues to be the UK.