Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change)
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206. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware that another Irish greyhound has ended up in China (details supplied); if he will investigate if the dog was exported directly or indirectly from Ireland; if action will be taken against those responsible for the export; and if he is aware of other Irish greyhounds exported to China for breeding and racing purposes and if he will urgently ban the export of greyhounds to China. [20916/23]

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.

With regard to the export of greyhounds generally, rules covering the movement of all breeds of dogs, including greyhounds, between EU Member States are set at European level. Greyhounds being moved from Ireland require veterinary animal health certification. This certification also applies to other breeds of dog, as well as to other animals.

The Department does not collect information on the breed of dog being certified for movement from Ireland, and therefore figures of greyhound movements are not available. There has been no recorded movement of dogs from Ireland to the country named between the years of 2019 and 2023.