Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 December 2020
492. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the procedures and protocols and the animal welfare and well-being standards in place regarding rehoming racing greyhounds abroad; the number of persons that accompany a dog for travel outside of Ireland; and if an official from Greyhound Racing Ireland and or a trust (details supplied) travel with the greyhound. [42753/20]
View answerRásaíocht 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 and the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust (IRGT) only collaborate with reputable International Greyhound Rehoming Organisations who have shown to have a proven track record in the rehoming of retired greyhounds and who have demonstrated that the care and welfare of the greyhound is of paramount importance.
I have been advised by the RCÉ that the transporting of retired greyhounds to U.K. and Europe is only carried out through the use of commercial greyhound transporters who are authorised by this Department or other relevant international authority. The transporting of retired greyhounds to the U.S. is only carried out through the use of specialist pet transporting companies who are members of organisations such as IATA. Greyhounds are also rehomed to U.S. and Canada through Finding Loving Irish Greyhounds Homes Together (FLIGHT) which involves a volunteer flight patron travelling with one, two, three or four greyhounds.
The transportation of greyhounds is normally managed by the international rehoming organisation involved or by the specialist pet transporting company. The transportation of a small number of greyhounds accompanied by a volunteer flight patron is a cost saving initiative by the IRGT as costs are lower compared with transporting commercially through a pet transporting company.
All requirements for a volunteer patron to travel are approved by the Trust in advance. Officials from RCÉ do not travel with greyhounds being transported abroad.
The care and wellbeing of all greyhounds is of the greatest importance to my Department.
