Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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974. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of the provisions in relation to the commitment provided to him by the Irish Greyhound Board regarding the expansion of its code to include provisions with regard to best practice when exporting greyhounds; the expected timeline in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13458/19]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Bord na gCon is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry.  Bord na gCon is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.  

I have received assurances from Bord na gCon that it is committed to the expansion of its existing ‘Code of Practice in the Care and Welfare of the Greyhound’ to include advice on best practice when exporting greyhounds. Work on the expanded Code will be finalised when consideration of the Greyhound Industry Bill has been completed by the Oireachtas.

Bord na gCon is also a participant in the International Greyhound Welfare Forum and at a meeting of the Forum on 6^thMarch 2019, Bord na gCon advised participants that it would engage with and accept input from members of the Forum in formulating the expanded Code.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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975. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of the €16.8 million provided to the Irish Greyhound Board in budget 2019 to be spent on the welfare of greyhounds during their racing life; the amount that will be provided to a charity (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13459/19]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Bord na gCon is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry.  Bord na gCon is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

Bord na gCon's budget for 2019 provides for a spend of €2.59m on regulation and welfare matters. The Irish Retired Greyhound Trust (IRGT) is funded by a percentage deduction in prizemoney to owners. This funding is then matched by Bord na gCon. Overall funding for IRGT in 2018 amounted to €242,000 and facilitates the rehoming of retired greyhounds in Ireland and in other countries.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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976. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is engaging at EU level to rectify issues in relation to the fact that the TRACES system used to record the exportation of dogs does not differentiate between greyhounds and other dogs and continued concerns regarding the export of greyhounds to countries with poor welfare standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13460/19]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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TRACES is the European Commission's online management tool for all sanitary requirements on intra-EU trade and importation of animals, semen and embryo, food, feed and plants.  Its main objective is to digitise the entire sanitary certification process, and it does not distinguish between breeds of dogs and there are no plans to change this. 

The vast majority of dogs that are moved from Ireland go to the UK.  Under EU law, dogs moved to another EU country from Ireland must be accompanied by an EU pet passport, be microchipped, and have a valid rabies vaccination. 

The welfare of greyhounds is regulated by the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011 and the Animal Health and Welfare Act of 2013.  The latter applies to all animals, whether kept for commercial, domestic, sport, show or other purposes.  It contains robust measures against the ill-treatment of animals.

The Greyhound Racing Bill 2018, when enacted, will add to existing legislation, making the greyhound the most regulated of all canine breeds in Ireland. The Bill ensures that the principles of good governance and regulation are clearly and unambiguously laid down in primary legislation.  In broad terms the Bill seeks to address deficiencies in the existing legislation and the governance of Bord na gCon.  It will strengthen regulatory controls in the industry, modernise sanctions and improve integrity with a view to building a reputation for exceptional regulation in the sector. 

Bord na gCon is the State Body responsible for the governance, regulation and development of the greyhound industry in Ireland.  It is opposed to exports of greyhounds to countries that do not meet Ireland’s welfare standards which is a view that I fully endorse.