Irish Greyhound Spotlight calls for
the immediate replacement of the newly appointed
Minister for Dept. Agriculture, Food and the Marine -
Barry Cowen who is set to oversee
the Irish greyhound industry.
On Saturday 27th June 2020 it was announced that Ireland's new Taoisesch, Micheal Martin, had appointed TD Barry Cowen as the new DAFM Minister - to replace Michael Creed, who IGS in 2016 highlighted concerns of for a conflict of interest in such a Ministerial role.
In 2010 Barry Cowen was appointed a job with the Irish Greyhound Board as Sales, Commercial and Operations Manager at the Mullingar greyhound Stadium - a job reported to have then paid a salary of up to €40k.
As well as working for the IGB, Barry Cowen owned and bred greyhounds - a greyhound such as Droopys Wiggy.
Having not been used for racing, Droopys Wiggy was instead used as a breeding machine - from just before reaching the age of 2 years old up to the age of 8 and a half years old.
The Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011 Section 11 Restrictions on Breeding outline that it is an offence for a female greyhound to be caused to have more than 6 litters unless a 'veterinary practitioner certifies that the pregnancy and birth do not present a risk of health or welfare of the bitch and: the certificate is lodged with Club[Irish Coursing Club]'
If these 2 rules in the 2011 Act are met with then a female greyhound can have a further 2 litters - bring her total life-breeding-use to 8 litters.
Barry Cowen - the new DAFM Minister overseeing the greyhound industry - was involved in using Droopys Wiggy for breeding a 7th and 8th time.
Her 8th litter failed but the IGB show that her seven litters produced 31 pups for the industry - her seventh litter in 2011 showing six pups in the stud book but only one pup listed with the IGB.
Out of her 31 pups only 2 can be seen as homed, in Germany.
That a person who has been employed by an industry, made money from an industry, and, even if complying with rules of an Act, used an ageing greyhound for continued breeding - adding to the overwhelming scale of greyhound breeding - can be appointed as a Minister to oversee that very industry raises questions of a conflict of interest.
Surely Barry Cowen's appointment as Minister for Dept. Agriculture, Food and the Marine conflicts with his 'duty to keep faith with public trust' and ability to 'make decisions and encourage and support the making of decisions on merit without discrimination' and 'not be influenced in their official duties by personal considerations' - as set out in the Code of Conduct for Office Holders in accordance with the Standards in Public Office Act 2001.
If Micheal Martin, the new Taoisesch, can do one good immediate
action in his new appointment it would be to
reverse his appointment of
Barry Cowmen as DAFM Minister.
** UPDATE 15th July 2020 **
Following research by IGS into Cowen's history with the greyhound industry, the Irish Examiner furthered the issue to a wider audience on July 10th.
Further press coverage prior and post to that article Cowen's character came further into question following his drink-driving history.
Cowen was sacked from Government on Tuesday 14th July - after being appointed on 27th June.
TD Dara Calleary was, on 15th July, announced as the new DAFM Minister - we can only hope commit to his demands of justice following the 2019 RTE documentary which showed the horrors of the greyhound industry.
Following research by IGS into Cowen's history with the greyhound industry, the Irish Examiner furthered the issue to a wider audience on July 10th.
Further press coverage prior and post to that article Cowen's character came further into question following his drink-driving history.
Cowen was sacked from Government on Tuesday 14th July - after being appointed on 27th June.
TD Dara Calleary was, on 15th July, announced as the new DAFM Minister - we can only hope commit to his demands of justice following the 2019 RTE documentary which showed the horrors of the greyhound industry.
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