Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 18 Dec 1996

Vol. 473 No. 2

Written Answers. - Greyhound Exports to Spain.

Tony Gregory

Question:

112 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the number of greyhounds exported from Ireland to Spain in each of the years from 1994 to 1996; the involvement, if any, of Bord na gCon in this trade; if conditions at greyhound tracks in Spain are satisfactory to Bord na gCon; and if any intervention is being considered by Bord na gCon in view of recent recurring complaints of unacceptable cruelty to greyhounds (details supplied) exported from this country to Spain. [24859/96]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. Yates)

There are no statistics available on the number of greyhounds exported to Spain during the period 1994-1996. I understand that the Central Statistics Office discontinued compilation of export figures for greyhounds as a separate category since 1993. Bord na gCon has no involvement in the trade.

At the request of Bord na gCon, the World Greyhound Racing Federation carried out an indepth examination in May 1995 of conditions prevailing at all four Spanish greyhound tracks and associated kennel complexes. That report was published and brought to the attention of the relevant authorities in Spain, that is, the Spanish Greyhound Racing Federation, whose responsibility it is to ensure that greyhound racing in Spain is conducted to a satisfactory standard.

We are precluded by EU rules of competition from taking any steps to restrict the export of greyhounds to other member states of the Union.