The control and administration of greyhound racing, including the matters referred to by the Deputy, are a matter for Bord na gCon.
The Control Committee and the Control Appeals Committee of Bord na gCon were established under the Greyhound Industry (Control Committee and Control Appeal Committee) Regulations 2007 (S.I. Number 301 of 2007). Subject to due process, positive results are published. The committees referred to above make the final determination in relation to publication of the positive results.
Samples are tested for prohibited substances in the National Greyhound Laboratory at Bord na gCon headquarters in Limerick. When a sample is declared positive by the National Greyhound Laboratory, owners/trainers are afforded due process including a hearing at the Control Committee and an appeal to the Control Appeal Committee. This can cause a significant time lag from the initial notification of the positive sample to subsequent publication of the results of the positive samples. Consequently, the number of cases published in a particular year can span more than 1 calendar year.
I understand from Bord na gCon that in all, total of 4807, 6893 and 7307 on-course samples tests were carried out for prohibited substance in the years 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively. There were 45 (0.9%) laboratory positive tests in 2011, 56 (0.8%) in 2012 and 51 (0.7%) in 2013.
Of the 45 positive tests in 2011 - 41 were published by the Control Committee (although not all published in that year), 3 were dismissed in favour of the owner and 1 was appealed to the Control Appeal Committee, which upheld the original findings.
Of the 56 positive cases in 2012 - 8 were published by the Control Committee (although not all published in that year), 9 will be published shortly, 20 were found in favour of the owner, and 19 are still pending deliberation by the Control Committee.
Of the 51 laboratory positive cases in 2013 , 7 cases were published by the Control Committee in January 2014, 11 are awaiting imminent publication, 2 cases were dismissed in favour of the owner and 31 are still pending deliberation by the Control Committee.
I understand from Bord na gCon that the number of published details of positive findings in the years 2011, 2012 and 2013 years was 31, 30 and 0, respectively. However, 17 cases were published in January 2014 and Bord na gCon expects that approximately a further 20 cases will be published shortly.
On a general point, I have commissioned an independent review of certain matters in relation to Bord na gCon, which will include an assessment of the regulatory framework. I will be considering any recommendations made in relation to these matters on receipt of that report, which I expect to be finalised shortly.
