Dublin City Councillor Deirdre Heney is the latest politician to call for an end to the massive state grants that are keeping the cruel dog-killing greyhound industry alive.
Responding to an ICABS tweet, the Fianna Fáil councillor for Clontarf - Dublin Bay North stated: “Taxpayers contribute €16.8 million to the Irish greyhound industry annually where 5,600 dogs are killed every year for not being fast enough - Stop this Leo Varadkar” https://twitter.com/DeirdreHeney/status/1151957412892594178
Her Fianna Fail colleague Jack Chambers TD has also condemned the cruelty and called on the government to act: “The RTE Investigates programme revealed a shocking & shameful level of cruelty to animals in this country. GOVERNMENT MUST TAKE ACTION”.
The abuse and killing of dogs in the government-financed greyhound industry has been branded “SUBSIDISED CRUELTY” by a spokesperson for the Minister for Sport, Shane Ross TD https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2019/0717/1063680-greyhound-cabinet/
For 2019, the Irish Greyhound Board - which presides over an industry which kills 6,000 dogs every year because they’re too slow - has received a massive €16.8 million government grant. That’s the equivalent of €323,076 for every week of the year or €1.4 million for every month. To-date, the Irish Greyhound Board has received around a quarter of a billion euros of taxpayers' money. This must now end.
An opinion poll carried out by TheJournal.ie has found that around 8 in 10 want the grants stopped. Petitions calling for an end to the grants have been signed more than 230,000 times.
The Green Party wants the government to channel the funding away from greyhound racing and into groups working to help animals and environment.
“The Greens are calling for an immediate suspension of State funding to the Irish Greyhound Board (IGB),” the party said in a recent statement. “Greyhound racing receives some €16.8 million in Government funding each year while the environmental NGO sector receives just €1.5m. This niche sport, which is linked to some 6,000 needless animal deaths every year, is receiving ten times more in state funding than environmental groups who commit themselves to the protection of wildlife and the environment.”
Green Party Spokesperson for Rural, Community Affairs and Local Government, Cllr Malcolm Noonan added: “This industry receives over 16m euro annually in State funding while animal welfare charities across the country are bursting at the seams with dogs rescued from euthanasia due to being too slow for racing. It is barbaric and cannot be allowed to continue. The money needs to be redirected to animal welfare and environmental groups that work to protect animals and wildlife.”
Westmeath County Councilor Hazel Smyth echoed this, commenting in Facebook post: “Saddened by reports of the awful treatment of greyhounds, this is not something that should be supported by our tax payer's funds.”
Solidarity–People Before Profit are also pushing for an end to the funding, with Paul Murphy TD stating in a Dail Eireann speech that “the funding should be cut”.
Willie Penrose TD (Labour, Longford Westmeath) has indicated that the Labour Party is considering ending its support for the government grants. Speaking at a Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine meeting earlier this month, he stated: “In my 27 years of service here in the Dail, I’ve never had such a public reaction conveyed to me by members of the public. Indeed some of my colleagues, including Deputy Kelly here, registered their deep disgust and annoyance at the contents of that RTE programme. I think it was an important public service broadcast by the station. The practices that were revealed in the RTE Investigates programme were horrific and abhorrent and have to be condemned with vehemence and unequivocation. It defies description. It is disgraceful the treatment of greyhounds and animals we’ve seen...I’ve said here last time on behalf of the Labour Party - we’ve always supported the granting of monies to the horse and greyhound industries but we will certainly reserving our position in terms of the greyhounds from here on in. It’s not a decision taken lightly...The €16.8 million [in government grants] for greyhound racing (€84 million in total for horse and greyhound racing) - there would be a lot of children out there who can’t get orthodontic treatment, a lot of people out there who can’t get anything for children, for school bus services or anything like that. That money would go a long way. We’re getting to the point now where increased questions are being asked by members of the public and we have an obligation to raise issues. I did say the last time we were here discussing the Greyhound Bill that this industry was dancing at the Last Chance Saloon. And this programme would certainly say that maybe it has passed the Last Chance Saloon…”
Independents 4 Change TD Joan Collins has also said that greyhound racing and the funding that it is keeping it afloat should be stopped.
Meanwhile, Fine Gael TD, Noel Rock has tweeted: "I believe we should end greyhound breeding for racing". He said he is "working to do this within my party".
Senator Ó Céidigh (Independent, Nominated by the Taoiseach) condemned as “absolutely terrible” the Irish greyhound industry’s animal cruelty and in a Seanad Eireann speech, stated: “Bord na gCon [Irish Greyhound Board] received €16 million in State funds last year. SIXTEEN MILLION EUROS. The FAI got €2.8 million for 450,000 members. I am keeping a pause here for a minute to take that in. An Indecon report back in 2014 highlighted the issue of animal welfare with regard to Bord na gCon. I ask the Leader if the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine could come in to address us on this. Will the Leader get us an overall picture of how much money is given out to various State bodies and sporting organisations? It appears to me to be incredibly lopsided.”
https://www.facebook.com/banbloodsports/videos/212273389657922/
URGENT ACTION ALERT
Say NO to the cruel greyhound industry - don't attend greyhound races or fundraisers/hen parties/office parties held at greyhound tracks
STOP THE STATE FUNDING FOR GREYHOUND RACING
Since 2001, the Irish Government has paid out around a quarter of a billion euros of taxpayers' money to greyhound racing, including €16.8 million for 2019. Following the shocking RTE Investigates revelations about cruelty and killing, it is time for these grants to be finally ended. Not a single cent more of public funds should end up in this shameful industry. Contact Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe now.
An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar
Government Buildings,
Upper Merrion St, Dublin 2
Telephone: +353 (0)1-6194020
Email: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie; leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
Tweet to: @LeoVaradkar
Leave a comment on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/LeoVaradkar
Paschal Donohoe TD
Minister for Finance
Email: paschal.donohoe@oireachtas.ie; minister@per.gov.ie
Phone: +353 (0)1 6045810
Leave a comment on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/PaschalDonohoe/
Tweet to @Paschald
Email “I support an end to all state funding to the cruel greyhound industry and a ban on hare coursing” to all Fine Gael TDs
maria.bailey@oireachtas.ie; sean.barrett@oireachtas.ie; pat.breen@oireachtas.ie; colm.brophy@oireachtas.ie; richard.bruton@oireachtas.ie; peter.burke@oireachtas.ie; catherine.byrne@oireachtas.ie; Ciaran.Cannon@oireachtas.ie; joe.carey@oireachtas.ie; corcorankennedy@eircom.net; Simon.Coveney@oireachtas.ie; michael.creed@oireachtas.ie; michael.darcy@oireachtas.ie; Jim.Daly@oireachtas.ie; john.deasy@oireachtas.ie; Pat.Deering@oireachtas.ie; Regina.Doherty@oireachtas.ie; Paschal.Donohoe@oireachtas.ie; andrew.doyle@oireachtas.ie; bernard.durkan@oireachtas.ie; damien.english@oireachtas.ie; Alan.Farrell@oireachtas.ie; frances.fitzgerald@oir.ie; peterm.fitzpatrick@oireachtas.ie; charles.flanagan@oireachtas.ie; Brendan.Griffin@oireachtas.ie; Simon.Harris@oireachtas.ie; Martin.Heydon@oireachtas.ie; Heather.Humphreys@oireachtas.ie; paul.kehoe@oireachtas.ie; enda.kenny@oireachtas.ie; Sean.Kyne@oireachtas.ie; josepha.madigan@oireachtas.ie; helen.mcentee@oireachtas.ie; joe.mchugh@oireachtas.ie; Tony.McLoughlin@oireachtas.ie; Mary.MitchellOConnor@oireachtas.ie; Dara.Murphy@oireachtas.ie; Eoghan.Murphy@oireachtas.ie; hildegarde.naughton@oireachtas.ie; tom.neville@limerick.ie; michael.noonan@oireachtas.ie; kate.oconnell@oireachtas.ie; Patrick.O'Donovan@oireachtas.ie; fergus.odowd@oireachtas.ie; JohnPaul.Phelan@oireachtas.ie; michael.ring@oireachtas.ie; noel@noelrock.ie; david.stanton@oir.ie; leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie
Email “I support an end to all state funding to the cruel greyhound industry and a ban on hare coursing” to all Fianna Fáil TDs
billykelleher@eircom.net;sean.haughey@oireachtas.ie;Bobby.Aylward@oireachtas.ie;brendan.smith@oireachtas.ie;johncurranff@gmail.com;Charlie.McConalogue@oireachtas.ie;michael.mcgrath@oireachtas.ie;sean.ofearghail@oireachtas.ie;john.brassil@oireachtas.ie;darragh.obrien@oireachtas.ie;eamon.ocuiv@oireachtas.ie;jackie.cahill@oireachtas.ie;john.mcguinness@oireachtas.ie;mattie.mcgrath@oireachtas.ie;micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie;michael.moynihan.td@oireachtas.ie;niall.collins@oireachtas.ie;coper@eircom.net;Robert.Troy@oireachtas.ie;thomas.byrne@oireachtas.ie;timmy.dooley@oireachtas.ie;barry.cowen@oireachtas.ie;fiona@fiona.ie;declan.breathnach@oireachtas.ie;mary.butler@oireachtas.ie;kevin.okeeffe@oireachtas.ie;dara.calleary@oireachtas.ie;escanlonmcc@eircom.net;sean.fleming@oireachtas.ie;niamh.smyth@oireachtas.ie;james@jameslawless.ie;shane.cassells@oireachtas.ie;willie.odea@oireachtas.ie;margaret.murphyomahony@oireachtas.ie;anne.rabbitte@oireachtas.ie;eugene.murphy@oireachtas.ie;jack.chambers@outlook.com;james.browne@oireachtas.ie;john.lahart@oireachtas.ie;lisa.chambers@oireachtas.ie;marc.macsharry@oireachtas.ie;jim.ocallaghan@oireachtas.ie;pat.casey@oireachtas.ie;aindrias.moynihan@oireachtas.ie;frankorourke1@gmail.com
Visit the Oireachtas website for more telephone numbers and other contact details for TDs
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/tds/?term=/ie/oireachtas/house/dail/32
Please sign and share our petitions
Irish Government: Stop Giving Millions of Euro to Cruel Greyhound Industry
https://www.change.org/p/irish-government-stop-giving-millions-of-euro-to-cruel-greyhound-industry
Stop supporting the cruel greyhound industry
https://www.change.org/p/stop-supporting-the-cruel-greyhound-industry
GAA: Stop club fundraisers at greyhound tracks
https://www.change.org/p/gaa-stop-club-fundraisers-at-greyhound-tracks
Contact the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan, and urge her not to issue a licence for another season of cruel hare coursing.
Email "Stop the cruelty. Stop licensing cruel coursing" to
josepha.madigan@oireachtas.ie or
Phone: +353 (0)1 631 3800
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://facebook.com/JosephaMadiganFG
Tweet to: @josephamadigan
Sign the petition: IRELAND BAN CRUEL HARE COURSING
www.change.org/p/ireland-ban-cruel-hare-coursing
TELL SPONSORS TO STOP THEIR SPONSORSHIP.
Boycott businesses which continue to support cruel greyhound racing and/or coursing
Please get in contact with Glanbia and ask it to permanently end all sponsorship/support of greyhound racing and hare coursing.
Jim Bergin
CEO, Glanbia
Glanbia House,
Kilkenny, Ireland
Telephone: +353 (0)56-777 2200
Email: corporatecomms@glanbia.com, info@gainanimalnutrition.com
Tweet to: @GlanbiaPlc
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GAINpetnutrition/
Urge Boylesports and Ladbrokes to immediately end their sponsorship
BoyleSports
Tel: 1800 22 00 66
Email: care@boylesports.com
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/boylesports/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BoyleSports
Ladbrokes
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ladbrokes/
Twitter @Ladbrokes ?@LadbrokesCare
Appeal to the Kerry Group (the company behind Pure sunflower/soya spread, Dairygold, LowLow, etc) to stop sponsoring greyhound racing.
Kerry Group
Phone: +353 (0)66 718 2000
Prince’s Street, Tralee, Co. Kerry
Email VIA: https://www.kerrygroup.com/help/contact-form/
Sign and share our other petition
Stop supporting the cruel greyhound industry
https://www.change.org/p/stop-supporting-the-cruel-greyhound-industry
Last September, ICABS identified 30 Supervalu supermarkets around Ireland which had sponsored greyhound racing over the past decade - https://www.facebook.com/banbloodsports/posts/1857546281027588 We contacted Supervalu Head Office with information about all the dog injuries and deaths in greyhound racing and urged the company to act. We received no response. It's time for Supervalu to take action to stop its local stores from supporting greyhound racing again. See sickening footage from Enniscorthy track of a greyhound suffering a bad fall at the end of a race sponsored by a Supervalu supermarket - https://www.igb.ie/videos/videos/?raceid=ECY_2018_08_23_02 (forward to 30 seconds)
SuperValu Head Office
Musgrave Limited,
Ballycurreen, Airport Road, Cork
Tel +353 (0) 21 4522100
Email: supervalu@musgravegroup.com; group@musgrave.ie; mrpi@musgrave.ie
Comment on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SuperValuIreland/
Tweet to @SuperValuIRL
ALSO CONTACT THESE COMPANIES WHICH SUPPORT GREYHOUND RACING IN 2019
(Source: Irish Greyhound Board)
https://www.igb.ie/talking-dogs/igb-finalises-classic--feature-events-calendar-for-2019/
Marshes Shopping Centre Dundalk
www.facebook.com/MarshesShoppingCentre/
Tweet to: @MarshesShopping
Telephone: (042) 939 5250
Flaherty Markets Galway
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Flaherty-Markets-230607914545890/
Email: info@flahertymarkets.com
Telephone: (091)756000
Dublin Coach
Facebook: www.facebook.com/DublinCoach/
Tweet to: @DublinCoach1
Email: info@dublincoach.ie
Telephone: (01) 465 9972
QuickPark.ie (car park at Dublin Airport)
Facebook: www.facebook.com/quickparkDublinAirport/
Email: info@quickpark.ie
Telephone: (01) 8621977
Kasko dog food
Email: information@kasko.ie
Telephone: (062) 61240
Thurles Fresh Milk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/thurlesfreshmilk1/
Telephone: 0504 22657 / HQ: 0504 91900
Speedrite dog food
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NuttsAboutPets/
Email: sales@nuttsaboutpets.ie
Telephone: (057) 915 3572
Casey's Caravan and Camping
Telephone: (058) 41919
Lee Strand
www.facebook.com/leestrandmilk/
Tweet to: @LeeStrandMilk
Email: info@leestrand.ie
Telephone: (066) 712 1084
Kerry Group
Telephone: (066) 718 2000
Best Car Parks
Tweet to: @bestcarparks
Email: info@bestcarparks.ie
Telephone: (01) 878 2074
Comerford Cakes (Comerford Brothers Ltd.)
Telephone: (045) 431 203
Galway Crystal
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/galwaycrystal/
Email: mailorder@galwaycrystal.ie
Tel: (091) 757 311
MORE CONTACT DETAILS FOR SPONSORS
(Thanks to Greyhound Awareness Cork)
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1RcaLYDWxuVAjLnF1N4q-twxK5jfixk7NZ_BTA_AvIow/edit?fbclid=IwAR3R9Yg_U_EVNBjFPHmUc9crRblncNDfflrUD21ZIXSo4TvzaQdyGtSa4MI#gid=0
Watch the full “RTE Investigates Greyhounds Running for Their Lives” programme on the RTE Player
https://www.rte.ie/player/movie/rt%C3%A9-investigates-greyhounds-running-for-their-lives/104051751967
or on Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYTb2qBjlMM