Written answers
Wednesday, 12 November 2025
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Assisted Animal Reproduction
Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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816. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of matings in the greyhound racing and coursing industries that involved surgical artificial insemination in each of the years 2019 to 2024, in tabular form; the number of those matings that involved the use of semen obtained from a sire deceased at the time the surgical artificial insemination occurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61920/25]
Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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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 of all greyhounds. The ICC is subject to the general control and direction of Rásaíocht Con Éireann.
The ICC have informed my Department of the number of matings in the greyhound racing and coursing industries that involved surgical artificial insemination in each of the years 2019 to 2024 and these are outlined in the table below.
| Year | Surgical Implant Matings | Total Implants from Deceased Sires |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 139 | 36 |
| 2020 | 142 | 49 |
| 2021 | 133 | 30 |
| 2022 | 90 | 45 |
| 2023 | 33 | 28 |
| 2024 | 7 | 7 |
Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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817. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the specific date for making the results of his Department’s consultation on surgical artificial insemination in greyhounds available for public review; and a specific timeline in respect of the next steps following this consultation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61921/25]
Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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In 2024, my Department held a public consultation on whether the practice of carrying out surgical artificial insemination in greyhounds should be banned or not. It is anticipated that the results of the public consultation will be published by the end of 2025. A specific date for publication is not available.
My Department is closely examining this issue and will be providing advice on an appropriate course of action in the near future.
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