asked the Minister for Supplies if he will now consider granting hackney car facilities to greyhound owners for the purpose of conveying their dogs to racing tracks.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hackney Cars for Greyhound Owners.
It is not proposed to modify the restrictions on the use of hackney vehicles for attendance at sports fixtures and, accordingly, facilities cannot be granted to greyhound owners for the purpose of conveying their dogs to racing tracks.
I think this is a great hardship and the Minister should consider allowing some mode of conveyance in areas where there is a certain number of dogs. They will not be taken in buses; there are no train facilities. In my area an application was made for a permit to take dogs to the train for one evening per month, to have them taken to a greyhound racing track 30 miles away. The application was refused. I ask the Minister to reconsider matters of this kind and to give an opportunity to an industry that is important to the country.
Are not horses being brought to race tracks in motor-driven horse-boxes? If that concession can be made to horse racing, why cannot some similar concession be made to greyhound racing which in certain parts of the country and amongst certain elements of our community is just as important as horse racing?
Permits and petrol allowances are given to owners of hackney vehicles to provide an essential service for the public.
But is not it true that petrol-driven horse-boxes are provided to bring horses to racecourses? If it is possible for the Department to give that concession to persons owning horses, why is it that the owner of greyhounds, who is not usually as large a person as the person who owns a horse, is denied a similar privilege?
So far as I am aware, the public transport companies will provide similar facilities in respect of greyhounds.
Will they undertake to do that?
That is a separate question altogether. Hackney cars are, in any event, under ordinary law, usable for the transportation of persons only.
Is it not so that bookmakers, in the ordinary course of business, may, like any other businessmen, use a hackney where no other transport is available?
No, they cannot.
I am told they can. If you are going to give that concession to horses, you ought to give it to dogs.
Is the Minister aware that buses have refused to take dogs?
I think quite rightly, if members of the public are waiting to travel.
Will the Minister say what transport facilities are available for the transport of dogs?
There are public transport services.
Where?
Here and there.
Here and there is about right.