Fianna Fail TD Sean Fleming (Laois) has called for an end to the export of Irish greyhounds to countries with poor animal welfare.

In a recent Dail Question, Deputy Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture "his views on ensuring that Ireland does not export greyhounds to countries in which the welfare standards are poor".

Responding, Minister Michael Creed stated: "Bord na gCon has informed me that while it has no control of events outside the jurisdiction of Ireland and has no statutory function regarding the regulation of greyhound exports, it does however continue to advise owners involved in the export of greyhounds to only export to destinations that provide the expected levels of greyhound care and management as defined within Bord na gCon's Code of Practice."

This worthless "advice" is clearly being ignored, with ongoing revelations that Irish-born greyhounds are continuing to end up in China and Pakistan, where appalling animal cruelty occurs. Grotesque video footage from China, for example, shows

• a greyhound being thrown into a barrel of boiling water and cooked alive
• a greyhound being slammed into the ground after failing to win a race
• a greyhound attacked and decapitated by a butcher wielding a meat cleaver

It is time for the Irish Government to take animal welfare seriously and intervene to stop the exports.

 ACTION ALERT 

Contact Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Agriculture Minister Michael Creed and demand action to stop the export of Irish dogs to China, Pakistan and other countries with little or no animal welfare laws.

An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar
Upper Merrion St, Dublin 2
Tel: +353 (0)1-6194020
Email: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie, leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie
Tweet to: @campaignforLeo
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/campaignforleo/

Michael Creed TD
Minister for Agriculture
Department of Agriculture
Agriculture House,
Kildare Street, Dublin 2.
Email: michael.creed@oir.ie,taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie
Tel: +353 (0)1-607 2000

Thank Sean Fleming for pushing for an end to the exports to countries with poor animal welfare. Deputy Fleming has voted in favour of government funding for greyhound racing - urge him to show compassion for the dogs suffering and dying in Ireland and, at the next opportunity, vote against further grants to the cruel greyhound industry.

Tel: 057 873 2692
Email: sean.fleming@oireachtas.ie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sean-Fleming-TD-198363233513928/

DAIL QUESTION AND ANSWER

24 April 2018

Sean Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on ensuring that Ireland does not export greyhounds to countries in which the welfare standards are poor; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael): The movement of all dogs between Member States is currently governed by European legislation. Under EU law, dogs moved to another EU country from Ireland must be accompanied by an EU pet passport, be microchipped, and have a valid rabies vaccination. Premises exporting dogs must be registered with my Department. Before travel, dogs must undergo a clinical examination by an authorised veterinarian, who must verify that the animals show no obvious signs of disease and are fit to be transported. Dogs must also have a health certificate issued by a Department veterinarian. Exporters must comply with EU law on the protection of animals during transport.

The position is that once animal health and welfare certification requirements, and the provisions of Council Regulation (EC) No 1 of 2005 on the protection of animals during transport, are met, dogs, including greyhounds, may be moved within the EU or exported to a non-EU country.

The main destination for Irish dogs and greyhounds moved abroad continues to be the UK.

Bord na gCon has informed me that while it has no control of events outside the jurisdiction of Ireland and has no statutory function regarding the regulation of greyhound exports, it does however continue to advise owners involved in the export of greyhounds to only export to destinations that provide the expected levels of greyhound care and management as defined within Bord na gCon's Code of Practice.

Make a donation to ICABS

Please support our work with a donation. Make a secure online payment to ICABS using your Paypal account or a debit/credit card.