IGB claims,Untruths uncovered.

national | animal rights | opinion/analysis

Saturday May 15, 2010 01:26

by Bernie Wright - Greyhound action Ireland

berniew at esatclear dot ie

Include ALL dogs in the dog Breeding bill

I refer to the upcoming Dog Breeding Bill and the untruths being bandied about by those who are pushing for some dog breeds to be exempt. The greyhound Industry strongly claim that welfare considerations are more than adequately covered by their Greyhound Industry Act of 1958 .

Greyhounds need protection too

Also that further regulation by the upcoming Dog Breeding Bill inspections will duplicate this area and over inspect their already regulated Industry.
After exhaustive attempts through Parliamentary questions on our part, we have finally ascertained that the IGB is not answerable to (any government department) when it comes to inspections of greyhound breeding establishments. Indeed there is no way of knowing if any such inspections take place, and if they do what the results are. The IGB is a law unto itself and it is worth stating for the record there are no independent Kennel inspections of Greyhound breeding kennels in this country
As this matter has been clarified, we urge all concerned to include all types of dogs under the upcoming Dog Breeding Bill. Why should Greyhounds not receive equal protection along with every other dog used to breed.
To include every dog being used for breeding regardless of their purpose is vital. We urge all concerned to fully support this important piece of Legislation.
Greyhound Action Ireland Press Officer
Bernie Wright.
0872651720
• In April 2010,to clarify this claim a parliamentary question was submitted by Maureen O Sullivan TD on my behalf pertaining to this aspect of the Greyhound Industry. This routine information request was to be asked of either of 3 Ministers/departments, Agriculture, Environment or the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism, [any of which could have been the relevant department which could have been overseeing the Welfare of the Greyhounds]
• This proposed Dail question requested the number of Kennel inspections that have been carried out by Bord na gCon in the past 5 years and the frequency, findings, revoked licences etc. resulting there from. This Information must readily be on record if it is required by the 1958 Act?. This question was however disallowed by the Ceann Comhairle.
• The Reason for being disallowed was set out as follows; ‘the inspection of kennels is part of the day to day functions of the board and is NOT AN ISSUE FOR WHICH EITHER MINISTER IS RESPONSIBLE TO DAIL EIREANN, in accordance with Standing Order 34 which provides that the Minister is responsible for policy matters only. The Ceann Comhairle went on to say ‘I regret that I had to rule both of these questions out of order.’