Parliamentary questions

Animal Welfare

Paul Murphy

415. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine who permits the Ballinasloe fair to go ahead (details supplied); and the decision-making process in relation to same. [44684/23]

Greyhound Industry

Paul Murphy

426. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason export receipts from the sale of some 6,500 greyhounds to the UK each year are not included in a report (details supplied) in light of supplementary information from Rásaíocht Con Éireann further to Parliamentary Question No. 731 of 20 September 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44944/23]

Greyhound Industry

Paul Murphy

427. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to reference all text in a report (details supplied) which is intended to convey to readers that coursing greyhounds are included in the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44945/23]

Greyhound Industry

Paul Murphy

428. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to clarify whether the ‘cost of preparing and racing greyhounds’ section included in a report (details supplied) includes the cost of ‘preparing and coursing’ coursing greyhounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44946/23]

Greyhound Industry

Paul Murphy

429. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a report (details supplied) excludes all costs incurred in Northern Ireland, by both greyhound owners normally resident in Northern Ireland, and greyhound owners normally resident in southern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44947/23]

Greyhound Industry

Paul Murphy

430. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the cost of preparing and coursing coursing greyhounds, by stage, in the coursing greyhound pipeline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44948/23]

Greyhound Industry

Paul Murphy

431. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to clarify whether the figures for attendance at greyhound race meetings in a report (details supplied) also include attendance at coursing events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44949/23]

Greyhound Industry

Paul Murphy

432. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether the Irish Coursing Club contributed to the fee paid for a report (details supplied) given its shared benefit from promoting the greyhound industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44950/23]

Horse Racing Industry

Paul Murphy

150. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is concerned at the high number of horse deaths at the Listowel races from 20 to 23 September 2023 (details supplied); what actions he intends to take to stop the unnecessary suffering of these animals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44483/23]

Horse Racing Industry

Paul Murphy

179. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to explain the differences between the Irish injured jockeys fund, qualified riders accident fund company and the jockeys accident fund company limited by guarantee; the reason there is a need for three separate funds; and how each differs from the other. [43022/23]

Greyhound Industry

Paul Murphy

483. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware that Greyhound Racing Ireland has stopped publishing control committee reports and control appeal committee reports on its website (details supplied); and if he will provide copies of the relevant reports from August 2022 to date. [42450/23]

Greyhound Industry

Paul Murphy

484. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for details about the six exclusion orders issued by Greyhound Racing Ireland in 2022; the names of the individuals involved; the exclusion durations; the circumstances or breaches which led to the exclusion orders; and if any of the cases were referred to the Garda for investigation. [42437/23]

Greyhound Industry

Paul Murphy

485. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for a breakdown, in tabular form, of the grants paid by Greyhound Racing Ireland to private tracks in 2022; the names of the tracks; the amounts granted; and the purpose of the payments. [42438/23]

Greyhound Industry

Paul Murphy

486. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide details, in tabular form, of the greyhound track attendance statistics for 2022 and to date in 2023, covering both Greyhound Racing Ireland tracks and private tracks, and including a breakdown of the figures into type of entry (paid entry, free entry, entry by adults, children, staff, owners or trainers, bookmakers, press, and so on) and type of event (racing, trials, sales, and non-racing events). [42439/23]

Greyhound Industry

Paul Murphy

487. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of greyhounds injured in racing, trials and sales events to date in 2023; the type of each injury; the date and location where they occurred; the number killed outright or euthanised by track vets; the number and causes of additional racing fatalities; and the results of any related post-mortems. [42440/23]

Greyhound Industry

Paul Murphy

488. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount paid out annually by Greyhound Racing Ireland under the injury scheme and track injury support scheme; the percentage of treatment costs covered by the schemes; the number of injured greyhounds treated; the amounts claimed by owners or trainers; the types of injuries suffered; and the dates and locations where the injuries were sustained. [42441/23]

Greyhound Industry

Paul Murphy

489. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the percentage of greyhounds euthanised by track vets at races or trials in the past five years that were greyhounds who suffered treatable injuries; the person who decides if a greyhound is treated or euthanised; and whether greyhound owners are charged the veterinary costs associated with euthanising the dogs. [42442/23]

Nitrates Usage

Paul Murphy

437. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide a numerical breakdown, in tabular form, of the approximate herd sizes of, and hectares farmed by, the roughly 3,000 farmers affected by the reduction in the nitrates derogation limit to 220 kg per hectare; whether they are dairy or beef farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41125/23]

Animal Slaughtering

Paul Murphy

441. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide clarity in relation to the discrepancies found in the figures provided by him in relation to thoroughbred slaughter figures in Ireland; if he will confirm the reason for the difference in the figures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41266/23]

Greyhound Industry

Paul Murphy

730. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide a list of all key life events recorded by the RCETS in respect of non-coursing greyhounds; whether the data recorded for each key life event applies to non-coursing greyhounds registered to owners normally resident in the Republic of Ireland only; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39767/23]

Greyhound Industry

Paul Murphy

731. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if references to the 'Irish economy' in a report (details supplied) refers to the economy of the Republic of Ireland only; if so, the reason owners and trainers resident outside the Republic of Ireland were included when calculating the value of greyhound racing to the 'Irish economy'; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39768/23]

Greyhound Industry

Paul Murphy

732. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if references to the 'Irish economy' in a report (details supplied) refers to the economy of the Republic of Ireland only; if so, the reason coursing and non-coursing greyhounds registered to owners normally resident outside the Republic of Ireland were included when calculating the cost of preparing and racing greyhounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39769/23]

Greyhound Industry

Paul Murphy

1272. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 1895 of 26 April 2022, for an update on the Irish Coursing Club's traceability system for coursing greyhounds which was scheduled for completion during quarter three of 2022 (details supplied); the statistics his Department has received from ICC regarding deaths and exports of coursing greyhounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37755/23]

Animal Slaughtering

Paul Murphy

1278. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in relation to (details supplied) to confirm how Irish thoroughbreds are being slaughtered in the UK; if he will provide details of the true slaughter figures of thoroughbreds in Ireland and the UK per year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37869/23]

Greyhound Industry

Paul Murphy

1316. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether he has concerns about Greyhound Racing Ireland partnering with a company (details supplied), considering the public funding that GRI is in receipt of, and the unethical practices of the company. [38676/23]

Agriculture Industry

Paul Murphy

1317. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason he and other Ministers visited a farm (details supplied), considering allegations; if he will investigate these allegations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38722/23]

Animal Welfare

Paul Murphy

939. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware that it is illegal to use a wild animal for entertainment purposes, in relation to the upcoming 'Puck Fair' in Killorglin, County Kerry, and that it is also against the law to prohibit animals from the five freedoms' of care; if he will instruct his Department to intervene and prohibit the use of any goat at this fair; and if not, the reason for allowing the organisers of this fair to break the law to capture and abuse a wild animal for entertainment (details supplied). [36606/23]

Environmental Policy

Paul Murphy

563. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department is analysing the impact on biodiversity and small fishers of the marine heatwave in Irish coastal waters; what measures are planned to address and prevent future heatwaves; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34733/23]

EU Directives

Paul Murphy

564. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will commit to ending the nitrates derogation in light of its negative environmental impact; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34734/23]

Horse Racing Industry

Paul Murphy

196. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the Chief Executive of Horse Racing Ireland was the one to choose who would conduct the independent review of IHRBs financial issue (details supplied); if he will review this decision and appoint an independent auditor with no connection to the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34594/23]

Horse Racing Industry

Paul Murphy

126. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of horses injured and killed at the 2023 Punchestown horse racing festival; the nature of the injuries; how many horses had their final race at the festival and were later killed elsewhere; and if consideration will be given to ending State funding to Horse Racing Ireland in view of the growing number of horse deaths at tracks around Ireland. [28708/23]

Horse Racing Industry

Paul Murphy

127. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the six-month portion that a one-year jockey licence withdrawal (which was suspended on condition that no further breaches occurred), will now be reimposed given that racecourse stewards suspended the jockey in question for 21 days in May for a separate matter (details supplied). [28709/23]

Wildlife Protection

Paul Murphy

269. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware that a company (details supplied) has responded positively to appeals and banned cruel animal snares from its website; if he agrees that Ireland should follow the example of Wales, which is poised to ban them; if he will take actions to ensure that this happens; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26810/23]

Wildlife Protection

Paul Murphy

547. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline the members of the public that were involved in the survey in relation to the first major public consultation into the impact of deer, that is, gun clubs, farming groups and so on; the research that has been carried out into non-lethal deer population control; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25616/23]

Wildlife Protection

Paul Murphy

548. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 536 of 16 May 2023, if he will outline the person or body that will be the stakeholders in the ‘stakeholder working groups to develop recommendations to managing the deer population effectively’. [25617/23]

Greyhound Industry

Paul Murphy

598. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine , further to Parliamentary Question No. 1895 of 26 April 2022, the current status of the 12,483 non-coursing greyhounds born in 2021 as recorded on the Rásaíocht Con Éireann traceability system or RCETS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24403/23]

Greyhound Industry

Paul Murphy

599. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the year of birth of each of the 203 non-coursing greyhounds listed as dead of natural causes for the year 2022 on the RCETS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24404/23]

Greyhound Industry

Paul Murphy

600. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the year of birth of each of the 272 non-coursing greyhounds listed as euthanised on humane grounds for the year 2022 on the RCETS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24405/23]

Greyhound Industry

Paul Murphy

601. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the year of birth of each of the 53 non-coursing greyhounds listed as euthanised due to terminal illness for the year 2022 on the RCETS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24406/23]

Greyhound Industry

Paul Murphy

602. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the year of birth of each of the 98 non-coursing greyhounds listed as euthanised due to being deemed unsuitable as a pet for the year 2022 on the RCETS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24407/23]

Greyhound Industry

Paul Murphy

603. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the year of birth of each of the 1,241 non-coursing greyhounds listed as deaths notified by the Irish Coursing Club, ICC, for the year 2022 on the RCETS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24408/23]

Greyhound Industry

Paul Murphy

604. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for a breakdown of the cause of death in the case of the 1,241 non-coursing greyhounds listed as deaths notified by the ICC for the year 2022 on the RCETS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24409/23]

Sports Funding

Paul Murphy

634. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the horse and greyhound racing industries are grossly more funded than any other sports; if he agrees that there are many projects that could bring better social benefits (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24843/23]

Greyhound Industry

Paul Murphy

410. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of non-coursing greyhounds born in 2022 that were entered on a system (details supplied) in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23741/23]

Greyhound Industry

Paul Murphy

411. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of non-coursing greyhounds born in 2022 that were entered on a system (details supplied) in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23742/23]

Greyhound Industry

Paul Murphy

412. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the cause of death of the 1,543 non-coursing greyhounds listed as deceased on a system (details supplied) in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23743/23]

Horse Racing Industry

Paul Murphy

179. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he agrees that more clarity is needed in relation to injuries sustained in relation to the policy that if a horse is injured at a track and does not die within 48 hours, it is not listed as a track death, including an explanation of the exact date a horse has died and why; if he will instruct Horse Racing Ireland to update its processes in this way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23392/23]

Horse Racing Industry

Paul Murphy

525. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will request a detailed report from HRI/IHRB as to how many meetings the Irish Thoroughbred Welfare Council has had, who attended and what progress has been made to date. [22668/23]

Horse Racing Industry

Paul Murphy

526. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide a breakdown of how many thoroughbreds are re-homed per year directly from training yards [22669/23]

Animal Culls

Paul Murphy

536. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the members of the public that were involved in the survey in relation to the first major public consultation into the impact of deer, that is, gun clubs, farming groups and so on (details supplied); the research that has been carried out into non-lethal deer population control; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22761/23]