Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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341. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 716 of 20 January 2021, in which the Minister stated "it can be interpreted that those involved in sporting activities, as opposed to domestic pets, are classed as farm animals", if he will ensure that this is corrected and that greyhounds are classified as domestic pets like other dogs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37807/24]

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.

For welfare purposes Section 2(1) of the Animal Health and Welfare Act, 2013 (the Act), defines “farm animals” as, among other qualifiers “(b) for use in, or for the purposes of, breeding, sport or the farming of land,”.

The Act does not specifically refer to greyhound classification. However, it can be interpreted that those involved in sporting activities, as opposed to domestic pets, are classed as farm animals.

I have no plans to amend the legislation at this time.