Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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382. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of surgical artificial inseminations carried out on greyhounds between 2012 and 2022; and the number of those inseminations that were carried out with sperm straws collected from now deceased stud dogs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49625/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Irish Coursing Club (ICC) is the competent authority with regard to the maintenance of the Irish Greyhound Stud Book. The ICC has been responsible for the Irish Greyhound Stud Book since 1923 and this was further underpinned by the enactment of the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958.

The ICC has informed my Department that the information requested is not available prior to 2019. The information requested for the years from 2019 to 2022 is as follows in tabular form.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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383. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Animal Health and Welfare (Dogs) Bill 2022 will include a ban on surgical artificial inseminations carried out on greyhounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49626/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware of the concerns raised in relation to the issue of surgical artificial insemination in canines and I have noted the concerns raised in the 2022 report on dogs of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine, which called for a ban on the practice of surgical artificial insemination in dogs, as well as the report of the the Working Group on Control of Dogs, which included a recommendation that surgical artificial insemination in canines ought to be prohibited.

Officials from my Department are continuing to examine this issue.

The Animal Health and Welfare (Dogs) Bill 2022 that you refer to is a a Private Members Bill which is before the Seanad. The text of that bill is available at: data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/bill/2022/54/eng/initiated/b5422s.pdf.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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384. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the traceability system (RCÉTS) for greyhounds is not utilised to provide a full picture of what happens with greyhounds in Ireland, i.e., outlining on a regular basis how many pups are born in any given year, when they die and if they are exported. [49627/23]

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.

The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for RCÉ and, therefore, the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.