YESTERDAYS SEANAD DEBATE

yesterday's Seanad "debate" - the main points


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Minister Gormley indicated that the following amendments will be introduced in the Dáil:



1- To allow a qualified veterinary practitioner / stipendary steward from the ICC/IGB to accompany a Local Authority Veterinary Inspector on an inspection of a greyhound breeding establishment.



2- Stipulate that a Local Authority Veterinary Inspector is also an authorised person under section 16 (Authorised persons).



3- Insert a provision that only a Local Authority Veterinary Inspector can issue an improvement order.



4- Provide that a registered Dog Breeding Establishment would be exempt from the fee associated with a general dog license (but not exempt from the licensing process itself).



5- Provide for the exemption of IGB Registered Trainers from the fee associated with the registration process. This would mirror the provision of the Hunt Club exemption.



6- Allowance of 3 litters over 3 years subject to veterinary advice providing that the provision for a maximum of 6 littersin the lifetime of a bitch would be retained.



7- Alter the definition of a breeding establishment to extend the 4 month age threshold to 6 months.



8- Change the previously signaled requirement of micro-chipping of all dogs on the premises by by 8 weeks old or before they leave the establishment to 12 weeks old.



9- Insert a provision that the legislation be reviewed after 12 months with a view to assessing its impact on the effective functioning of the Greyhound Industry.



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Fine Gael Senators Paudie Coffey and Maurice Cummins put forward four amendments, proposed by Senator Cummins and seconded by Senator Paul Bradford.



1- That dog-breeders should have 12 months from the enactment of the bill to register with their local authority rather than the 3 months specified in the bill.



The Minister suggested that he would be willing to amend it to six months and the proposed amendment was withdrawn.



2- That there would be a facility to pay fees by electronic means.



The Minister stated that not all local authorities had such facilities in place but that it is expected that they will have in the future. Proposed amendment withdrawn.



3- That the operator of an establishment registered with the Irish Coursing Club be exempt from fees associated with registration as a Dog Breeding Establishment with the local authority.



The Minister was not willing to accept the amendment. The amendment was pressed and a vote was taken.



The Seanad divided: Tá, 18; Níl, 31.



Tá

Bacik, Ivana. Bradford, Paul.

Burke, Paddy. Buttimer, Jerry.

Cannon, Ciaran. Coghlan, Paul.

Cummins, Maurice. Donohoe, Paschal.

Fitzgerald, Frances. Hannigan, Dominic.

Healy Eames, Fidelma. McCarthy, Michael.

McFadden, Nicky. O’Reilly, Joe.

Phelan, John Paul. Prendergast, Phil.

Ryan, Brendan. Twomey, Liam.



Níl

Boyle, Dan. Brady, Martin.

Butler, Larry. Callely, Ivor.

Carroll, James. Carty, John.

Cassidy, Donie. Corrigan, Maria.

Daly, Mark. Dearey, Mark.

Ellis, John. Feeney, Geraldine.

Glynn, Camillus. Hanafin, John.

Keaveney, Cecilia. Leyden, Terry.

McDonald, Lisa. Mooney, Paschal.

Mullen, Rónán. Norris, David.

Ó Brolcháin, Niall. Ó Domhnaill, Brian.

O’Brien, Francis. O’Malley, Fiona.

O’Sullivan, Ned. O’Toole, Joe.

Ormonde, Ann. Quinn, Feargal.

Ross, Shane. White, Mary M.

Wilson, Diarmuid.



Tellers: Tá, Senators Paul Bradford and Maurice Cummins; Níl, Senators Niall Ó Brolcháin and Diarmuid Wilson.



Amendment declared lost



4- To amend the definition of a breeding bitch from over the age of four months to over the age of two years



The Minister re-iterated his indication that the definition would be amended to over the age of six months when the bill reaches the Dáil. After some debate Senator Cummins indicated that the his party would have compromised at over twelve months. Agreement was not reached.



Question put: “That the word and figure proposed to be deleted stand.”



The Seanad divided: Tá, 30; Níl, 19.



Tá

Boyle, Dan. Brady, Martin.

Butler, Larry. Callely, Ivor.

Carroll, James. Carty, John.

Cassidy, Donie. Corrigan, Maria.

Daly, Mark. Dearey, Mark.

Ellis, John. Feeney, Geraldine.

Glynn, Camillus. Hanafin, John.

Keaveney, Cecilia. Leyden, Terry.

McDonald, Lisa. Mooney, Paschal.

Norris, David. Ó Brolcháin, Niall.

Ó Domhnaill, Brian. O’Brien, Francis.

O’Malley, Fiona. O’Sullivan, Ned.

Ormonde, Ann. Quinn, Feargal.

Ross, Shane. Walsh, Jim.

White, Mary M. Wilson, Diarmuid.



Níl

Bradford, Paul. Burke, Paddy.

Buttimer, Jerry. Cannon, Ciaran.

Coghlan, Paul. Cummins, Maurice.

Doherty, Pearse. Fitzgerald, Frances.

Hannigan, Dominic. Healy Eames, Fidelma.

McCarthy, Michael. McFadden, Nicky.

Mullen, Rónán. O’Reilly, Joe.

O’Toole, Joe. Phelan, John Paul.

Prendergast, Phil. Ryan, Brendan.

Twomey, Liam.



Tellers: Tá, Senators Niall Ó Brolcháin and Diarmuid Wilson; Níl, Senators Maurice Cummins and Joe O’Reilly.



Question declared carried