PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS SEPTEMBER 2021
Click on the PQ number below to skip to the Question & Reply below.
To ask the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine the amount paid in late interest payments and penalty payments in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021 made by Greyhound Racing Ireland in respect of late payments being made to suppliers, service providers and contractors in tabular form; and the measures that the body has put in place or are implementing to reduce late payment interest and or penalty payments.
Catherine Murphy
To ask the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if he will ensure that all staff in his Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit who, by necessity of their work have to come into close proximity with others, including other employees or members of the public are provided with medical grade masks in the EN14683 category; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Holly Cairns
Details Supplied: Talking Dogs TV" : GRI has claimed that "many have tuned in" to the channel since its launch in March but, according to the Irish Greyhound Owners and Breeders Federation group, the GRI has admitted that the channel "was not translating into significant viewing numbers" and that “viewing numbers were falling every week” [ http://igobf.ie/wp/?p=1303 ]
Paul Murphy
To ask the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine the number of greyhound injuries and deaths at a location (details supplied) to date in 2021, by date; the names of the dogs; and the nature of the injuries and causes of death.
Details Supplied: Shelbourne Park stadium
Paul Murphy
PQ No: 44018/21
Question:
To ask the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine the amount paid in late interest payments and penalty payments in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021 made by Greyhound Racing Ireland in respect of late payments being made to suppliers, service providers and contractors in tabular form; and the measures that the body has put in place or are implementing to reduce late payment interest and or penalty payments.
Catherine Murphy
Answer:
Greyhound Racing Ireland has in recent years progressed a significant restructuring of its subsidiary company structure and has 7 companies currently placed in voluntary liquidation with a proposal recently approved to voluntary liquidate a further additional company. This process has resulted in the centralisation of invoicing and payments and has ensured a consistent approach across GRI operations.
I can confirm that Greyhound Racing Ireland incurred no late payment interest and or penalty payments respect of late payments being made to suppliers, service providers and contractors in the period the subject of the PQ.
I can confirm that the measures that the body has in place or are sufficient to monitor our payment processes ensuring that we do not incur late payment interest and or penalty payments.
PQ No: 44367/21
Question:
To ask the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if he will ensure that all staff in his Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit who, by necessity of their work have to come into close proximity with others, including other employees or members of the public are provided with medical grade masks in the EN14683 category; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Holly Cairns
Answer:
Rásaíocht Con Éireann complies with government directives and public health guidelines in relation to the management of the Covid-19 pandemic. General admission to greyhound tracks has been severely restricted over the course of the last 18 months. Since early September, in accordance with government directives and guidelines, a phased return to attendance at tracks is being progressed. RCÉ will continue to comply with directives and requirements of government and public health advice in this regard.
PQ No: 44275/21
Question:
Details Supplied: Talking Dogs TV" : GRI has claimed that "many have tuned in" to the channel since its launch in March but, according to the Irish Greyhound Owners and Breeders Federation group, the GRI has admitted that the channel "was not translating into significant viewing numbers" and that “viewing numbers were falling every week” [ http://igobf.ie/wp/?p=1303 ]
Paul Murphy
Answer:
Rásíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) launched the Talking Dogs TV (TDTV) in early March 2021 as an interim arrangement to provide the greyhound racing experience to parties who, due to Covid restrictions, were not permitted to attend greyhound tracks at that time. The initiative was viewed as a very positive intervention enabling parties in Ireland and in the international arena to view greyhound racing live on a Saturday evening. Coverage focused on racing from Shelbourne Park on a Saturday night with one other track being featured depending on overall schedules. The initiative was agreed for a pilot three-month basis and ceased on 3rd July 2021. RCÉ did operate TDTV for the first round and second round of the BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby 2021 before the coverage of the competition switched to RPGTV for the remaining rounds.
Viewers on TDTV reached a peak of 819 in the early period with the lowest viewership of 125 arising on 25th June 2021. It should be noted that greyhound handlers were permitted access to tracks thought out the period when ‘racing behind closed doors’ and Covid restrictions were relaxed from 7th June with a100 attendees permitted outdoors at all tracks. Overall income generated from the initiative was €41,367 with costs amounting to €62,620. Feedback in relation to such a high -quality production was extremely positive. Viewership in the latter stages was impacted by the direct admission of attendees and the fine weather during the summer period which is a traditionally quiet time for the greyhound industry.
The attraction of viewers to the TDTV channel was also hampered by the unauthorised sharing of live greyhound racing footage on social media channels. This removed the need for some parties to participate in TDTV on a pay-per-view basis as footage was clearly available through other channels. RCÉ has taken steps through the social media companies involved to address the unauthorised sharing of RCÉ material.
RCÉ has been very pleased with the success of the TDTV initiative which enabled a high-quality live greyhound racing programme of three-hour duration to be provided to greyhound racing enthusiasts during a period when access to the tracks was not permitted by the general public. As Covid restrictions ease and as greyhound racing fans can return to greyhound tracks the necessity for the TDTV initiative does not arise at the present time.
PQ No: 46649/21
Question
To ask the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine the number of greyhound injuries and deaths at a location (details supplied) to date in 2021, by date; the names of the dogs; and the nature of the injuries and causes of death.
Details Supplied: Shelbourne Park stadium
Paul Murphy
Answer:
Deputy Murphy,
I refer to PQ No: 46649/21, which was referred to Greyhound Racing Ireland (GRI) / Rásaíocht Con Éireann (RCE) by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and to which I am pleased to respond.
7,035 greyhounds started races at Shelbourne Park Stadium in the year up to 31st August, of which 31 were injured (0.44% injury rate). 11 of the 31 injured dogs were Put to Sleep (0.16% PTS rate) by attending veterinary practitioners who attend all race events and who are the appropriate competent person to make decisions regarding the welfare of a greyhound. A summary of the nature of the injuries and causes of death are set out below:
- Leg Injury 7
- Hock Injury 15
- Wrist Injury 2
- Shoulder Injury 2
- Cut 2
- Foot / Toe Injury 3
Comprehensive track maintenance procedures are operated at Shelbourne Park Stadium to ensure that the best possible arrangements are provided for greyhound racing. Stadium management uphold a focused scrutiny on the seeding of greyhounds to alleviate the possibility of race crowding, while greyhounds that underperform or in general have run poorly in consecutive races must undertake a performance trial to prove their wellbeing.
Furthermore, RCÉ works closely with greyhound owners/trainers to ensure every effort is made to minimise injuries to racing greyhounds at all tracks.
RCÉ, in conjunction with members of the greyhound racing community, has progressed and expanded an extensive range of programmes to cater for the care and welfare needs of racing greyhounds in Dublin and across Ireland over the past two years. These schemes include the provision of care and foster care centres, the operation of a Greyhound Injuries Support Scheme, and the commissioning of the Rásaíocht Con Éireann Traceability System. 4,239 greyhounds also have been rehomed (974 in 2019; 1,775 in 2020; 1,490 in 2021 up to 31st August) with the support of RCÉ and the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust.
Under the expanded inspection programme for greyhound establishments, 612 announced and unannounced inspections of ‘greyhound establishments and welfare inspections were carried out in the year up to August 31st. 98 welfare investigations were carried out/initiated involving matters such as stray or neglected greyhounds/reports received of greyhound welfare concerns/non-notification to ICC of sales or transfers of greyhounds.
RCÉ Welfare Officers have served 5 Welfare Notices under the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011, 2 Welfare Notices under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 and 28 Fixed Payment Notices. RCÉ has secured 2 successful convictions in respect of breaches of the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011 and breaches of the Welfare of Greyhounds Regulations 2016.
Further information is available from www.grireland.ie.