Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 February 2022
932. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of the incidents and injuries which caused racing fatalities at greyhound tracks in 2021; if post-mortems were carried out on the dead dogs; and if he will consider a ban on greyhound racing given the growing number of injuries and deaths at tracks, including 351 injuries and 154 deaths in 2021. [7477/22]
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.
Rásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) has informed this Department that in 2021, 1,388 race meetings took place at the 14 RCÉ licensed greyhound stadia nationwide with 15,532 races. There was a total of 91,949 starters at these race meetings, with 351 (0.38%) reported injuries by the veterinary surgeons present at each race meeting. There was a total of 154 greyhounds (0.17%) put to sleep or fatally injured during this period.
Regarding the details of the incidents and injuries requested, a summary of reported injuries is attached (Appendix 1). The report displays date of injury, track where the injury occurred, nature of injury and veterinary action taken.
The names of greyhounds are not disclosed as they constitute personal data (related to greyhound owners) as defined by Article 4 (1) of the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679.
In April 2021, Rásaíocht Con Éireann introduced a policy that provided that in the event of the unexplained death of a greyhound, whilst competing or having competed in an event at a licensed stadium, that a detailed post-mortem is carried out in accordance with best practice. The purpose of the policy is to establish, where possible, the reason(s) for the sudden unexplained death during or after a race event. In 2021, 4 post mortem examinations were carried out.
This Department has received assurances that RCÉ remains committed to the protection of the integrity of the Greyhound Industry and to the promotion of welfare. I do not intend to consider a ban on greyhound racing.
