Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 December 2020
656. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if greyhound racing trainers who have been banned from racing greyhounds in other jurisdictions are permitted to train and race greyhounds in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43000/20]
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 operates under the Greyhound Racing Acts 1958 – 2019 and regulations made thereunder. In addition, the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011 and the Animal Health and Welfare Act of 2013 also apply to greyhound racing. No transfer of sanctions is imposed by RCÉ from another racing jurisdiction within Irish greyhound racing. It is a matter for the appropriate regulatory authorities to assess the circumstances of any particular case, apply due process and deal with any issues arising as part of the statutory framework governing greyhound racing in Ireland.
RCÉ has informed my Department that it has undertaken such processes in recent years. Such actions have been challenged in the High Court and Court of Appeal but have been upheld by both courts.
