Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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820. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of instances of artificial insemination of greyhounds that have been investigated in the past ten years by vets employed by his Department and-or persons appointed by Greyhound Racing Ireland; the sanctions that were imposed; and the controls that are in place to ensure this practice does not happen. [40421/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Rásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) 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. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

The issue of artificial insemination of greyhounds is covered under the Artificial Insemination of Greyhounds Regulations, 2005 (S.I. No. 561 of 2005). In accordance with those regulations, the Irish Coursing Club is required to maintain separate registers recording particulars of proven inseminators and approved centres. Under Article 7 of the regulations any investigations arising are to be carried out by the Club. Under the regulations RCÉ may appoint an authorised officer for the purpose of carrying out specific requirements under the regulations. RCÉ has not found it necessary in recent years to undertake any investigations as envisaged by the 2005 regulations.