Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 June 2015
465. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied that the Irish Greyhound Board and the Irish Coursing Club have enforced the Artificial Insemination of Greyhounds Regulations 2005 since their introduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21963/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Irish Coursing Club (ICC) is responsible for the identification and registration of greyhounds in the Irish Greyhound Studbook. The ICC is subject to the general control and direction of Bord na gCon (BNG) under Section 26(2) of the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 (the Act). BNG is the statutory body with responsibility for the improvement and development of the greyhound industry, greyhound racing and coursing. Detailed rules governing the practice of the artificial insemination of greyhounds were set down in the Artificial Insemination of Greyhounds Regulations, 2005, (S.I. No. 561 of 2005), which were made by BNG under Section 39 of the Act.
The Regulations included a two year limit on the use of semen for artificial insemination following the death of a stud dog, thereafter any unused semen had to be destroyed.
As I have already outlined to the Deputy in Parliamentary Question No. 112 for answer on Wednesday, 13th May my Department was informed by Bord na gCon in early 2013 that procedural issues had arisen in relation to the registration of greyhounds conceived following artificial insemination which were at variance with the provisions set down in the 2005 regulations referred to above. Following a Board Meeting regarding the matter, as already outlined new legislation ‘Artificial Insemination of Greyhounds (Amendment) Regulations 2014’ has been introduced by BNG in late 2014 removing the two-year limit.
