Wednesday 27 August 2014

Report of, November 2013, Liaison Meeting - Bord na gCon and DAFM



On 22 November 2013 at Bord na gCon Headquarters, in Limerick,
 a meeting was held with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine 
on various topics, such as Welfare, 'Debts, Doping, and Ringing'.

IGS highlights and expands some areas of certain interest, below, from the Report of the November 2013 Liaison Meeting between the semi-state Irish Greyhound industry and their sponsors(Dept. Agriculture, Food and the Marine).The Report followed shortly after the Bord na gCon's appearance before the Public Accounts Committee.

'Limerick Stadium' :  'Mr. Niall Healy, who attended this meeting at the request of BnG, provided an outline to the meeting of how the construction of Limerick Stadium was managed.'  The controversial Greyhound track managed on a 'gentleman's agreement'.

'Regulation' : 'Mr. Herbert, Head of Regulation, BnG, reported that following the Tullymurry Act case. BnG will be bringing forward proposals to amend the racing regulations to address the shortcomings highlighted by this case.' The Tullymurry Act case left the Bord na gCon to face a €1.5m lawsuit after the Greyhound was found to have been drugged while in the Bord's care.
'Frozen Semen' : 'The Artificial Insemination of Greyhounds Regulations 2005, S.I. 561 of 2005 provide for a two year limit on the use of semen following the death of a stud dog, thereafter the semen must be destroyed and this is provided for in Articles 11 and 14 of the aforementioned Regulations. DAFM expressed its concern to learn that the two year rule is not being adhered to' Please read further on the on-going breaches of the AI Greyhound Regulations as highlighted by IGS in June.
'Greyhound Welfare' : 'Mr. Ryan[DAFM]recommended that Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) should be prepared and implemented by staff at tracks and at kennels. Mr. Herbert[Bord na gCon]confirmed that there were no greyhound welfare SOPs in place. Mr. Neilan accepted that BnG need to address this issue.' Seven months later, in July 2014, Bord na gCon's Brian Purcell claims the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011 to be 'probably the strongest piece of legislation for any animal in the world'
'Dundalk Enquiry' : 'Mr. Herbert outlined the changes that have been made by BnG arising out of the findings contained in the report commissioned by BnG from Ms Aoife Forrest, BL, into the running of “Mays Hurronboy” 'An examination of results, between May 2008 and June 2009, found a number of cases where dogs with fictitious trials competed'[at Dundalk]. 'new evidence subsequently came to light, which showed the need for further investigation' a 'new report high-lighted significant shortcomings in the original IGB inquiry'.
'Stanozolol' : 'Stanozolol is an anabolic steroid the use of which is banned in sports. Stanozolol, in its oil-based form, is administered intravenously, the water-based form is administered orally. Mr. Herbert informed the meeting that BnG has been testing for Stanozolol, in its water- based form, for a number of years. BnG tests to the Australian standard. BnG can, under current testing arrangements in Ireland, detect the presence of the water-based Stanozolol. Testing for oil-based \ Stanozolol is proving more difficult' 
'Oestrogen Suppression' : 'BnG is seeking to identify a product that can be legitimately used as an oestrogen suppressant in bitches. Mr. Herbert explained that bitches are unable to race when they come in season and this limits the number of times bitches can compete[be used]' 'The human contraceptive pill, an effective oestrogen suppressant, is not an anabolic steroid but there is no veterinary equivalent on the market. BnG is seeking the approval of the Irish Medicines Board to use this product (i.e. human medicine) in greyhounds. In addition, BnG is examining products on the market that are being legally administered to horses with a view to identifying a solution for greyhounds' Business is business - the Greyhounds are tools - the races must go on. 

'AOB' : 'BnG’s welfare officer will travel to Spain to assess the situation with regard to greyhound racing there. A private individual is planning to export dogs to Spain' After the denial of exports of Greyhounds to China on Welfare grounds alarming news came of new sales of Greyhounds to Spain - this despite the concerns raised in 2005 and the continued abuse of thousands of Spanish Greyhounds: the Galgo. 

Please adopt a Greyhound
Don't bet on one
Please don't support the Irish Greyhound Industry.