Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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390. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of non-coursing greyhounds registered as 'deceased' in the lrish Coursing Club's stud book for each of the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 to date, with a breakdown by year of birth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39637/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Irish Coursing Club (ICC) is the organisation charged with the role of Keeper of the Irish Greyhound Stud Book (IGSB) since 1923. The Stud Book records pedigrees, ownerships, breeding data and transfers of ownership primarily of all greyhounds. The ICC is subject to the general control and direction of Rásaíocht Con Éireann.

The information requested needs to be collated as it is not readily available. It will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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391. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of non-coursing greyhounds registered as 'deceased' on Rásaíocht Con Éireann’s traceability system for each of the years 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 to date, with a breakdown by year of birth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39638/24]

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.

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.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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392. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason greyhound bitches are the only breed of dog that can still undergo artificial insemination, given that it is a risky and painful procedure and has been banned for other breeds; if he will change this law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39639/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) announced in April 2024 that it had updated its Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Practitioners to prohibit veterinarians from carrying out surgical artificial insemination in dogs due to ethical and welfare considerations. However, this new prohibition does not apply to greyhounds, as the practice is provided for in legislation under the Artificial Insemination of Greyhound Regulations 2005.

The report of the Working Group on Control of Dogs, which was approved by Cabinet in March 2023, and has been published online at gov.ie - Working Group on Control of Dogs (www.gov.ie), includes a recommendation that surgical artificial insemination in canines ought to be prohibited, where the word canine encompasses all breeds of dogs, including greyhounds.

Earlier this year I announced a public consultation on whether the practice of carrying out surgical artificial insemination in greyhounds should be banned or not. This public consultation has now closed.

My Department is closely examining this issue and will be providing me with advice on an appropriate course of action.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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393. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if it is correct to interpret the answer to a previous Parliamentary Question (details supplied) as meaning that during the period 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021, 12,483 non-coursing greyhounds were whelped; if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39678/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Irish Coursing Club (ICC) is the organisation charged with the role of Keeper of the Irish Greyhound Stud Book (IGSB) since 1923. The Stud Book records pedigrees, ownerships, breeding data and transfers of ownership primarily of all greyhounds. The ICC is subject to the general control and direction of Rásaíocht Con Éireann.

The ICC has informed my Department that it is correct to interpret that 12,483 non coursing greyhounds were whelped in 2021.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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394. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware that a claim in Greyhound Racing Ireland's latest annual report that ‘378,748 patrons attended greyhound racing events in 2023’ is inaccurate due to the fact that this figure includes at least 87,628 entries by non-patrons (i.e., greyhound owners, greyhound trainers and bookmakers). [39679/24]

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.

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.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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395. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 341 of 2 July 2024, if he is aware that the trainer of a greyhound raced at Curraheen Park track stated that one of the dog's owners is an individual banned from owning dogs (details supplied); and the action he is taking to address this. [39680/24]

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.

RCÉ has informed this Department that while RCÉ has no statutory role regarding greyhound ownership in Ireland, the matter was investigated by RCÉ on receipt of the details of a relevant Court Order. It was established by RCÉ’s team of Welfare Officers that there were no greyhounds in the immediate care of Ms. Connolly at Puckaun, County Tipperary.

Regarding the participation in racing of a greyhound registered to a UK based Syndicate (M-W-D Partnership), RCÉ has informed my Department that on enquiry with the Greyhound Racing Board of Great Britain (GBGB), GBGB states that it does not request the names of syndicate members as full responsibility rests with the lead person of the syndicate, which is not the person named in this instance.