A Kerry Sinn Fein TD has shamefully called for the reopening of a greyhound track where greyhound trainers were seen ignoring the government’s COVID-19 social distancing advice.

Speaking in Dail Eireann this week during a “COVID-19 (Tourism)” debate, Pa Daly TD noted that Tralee greyhound stadium is now closed and asked the Minister of State for Tourism if it could be reopened.

“I wonder would the Minister maybe look - if distancing can be properly observed - at an earlier opening for the greyhound stadium,” he stated.

He said "the economy in Kerry and along the Wild Atlantic Way has been destroyed by COVID-19” and that Kerry is “more dependent on tourism than any other county”.

In March, before greyhound tracks were forced to shut down, Irish Greyhound Board race footage from the Tralee track clearly showed up to six greyhound owners and trainers side by side as they collected greyhounds at the end of races. A clear breach of HSE advice to stay 2 metres apart. See: https://www.flickr.com/photos/icabs/albums/72157713579485482

There was disgust at the fact that, despite the risks involved and mounting concerns about the spread of the coronavirus, greyhound racing continued at Tralee stadium up until as close as possible to the 12 midnight deadline on 24th March. On the evening following Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s announcement, 10 races took place at Tralee stadium and another 10 at Shelbourne Park.

Greyhound tracks - where attendance has continued to plummet in the early part of 2020 - should not be considered tourist attractions, particularly in light of a decision by Tourism Ireland and Failte Ireland to stop promoting greyhound racing. The tourism bodies last year announced that they were dropping greyhound racing from their marketing material, due to fears that it damages Ireland's reputation as a tourist destination https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/ireland/shane-ross-immoral-dog-racing-will-deter-tourists-982nwhwb9

Tralee stadium is one of the worst in Ireland for injuries and deaths. Over the past five years alone, at least 123 greyhounds suffered injuries there and 57 were killed by a track vet.

More and more people are rejecting greyhound racing after the cruelty and killing were exposed in the "RTE Investigates: Greyhounds running for their lives" programme last year. The sickening documentary revealed that 6,000 dogs are killed every year simply because they are not fast enough to win races. It included shocking scenes of dogs being delivered to a knackery to be shot in the head. One shot dog was seen writhing on the ground in agony as his merciless owner drove away. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYTb2qBjlMM

Pa Daly, a supporter of cruel hare coursing, was the only TD to mention greyhound racing during the debate on Wednesday. Despite voting against massive government grants to horse and greyhound racing in recent years, his Sinn Fein party has said it is not opposed to the grants.

Since 2001, more than one and a quarter BILLION euros of taxpayer’s money has been handed over to Horse Racing Ireland and the Irish Greyhound Board. For 2020, while sports clubs, health bodies, schools, animal rescue centres and environmental groups cried out for funding, horse racing was granted another €67.2 million, while greyhound racing got €16.8 million.

Find out more about Coronavirus (COVID-19) and how you can protect yourself at https://www2.hse.ie/coronavirus/

ACTION ALERT

Urge Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Agriculture Minister Michael Creed and Health Minister Simon Harris not to allow greyhound racing or horse racing to resume.

An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar
Telephone: +353 (0)1-6194020
Email: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie, leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LeoVaradkar
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeoVaradkar

Michael Creed TD
Minister for Agriculture
Email: michael.creed@oir.ie
Tel: +353 (0)1-607 2000 or LoCall 1890-200510.
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michaelcreedtd
Tweet to: @creedcnw

Simon Harris, TD
Minister for Health
Phone: 01-6354000
Email: simon.harris@oir.ie
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeputySimonHarris
Tweet: https://twitter.com/SimonHarrisTD

STOP THE STATE FUNDING FOR HORSE AND GREYHOUND RACING

Another €84 million of scarce public funds was approved for horse and greyhound racing for 2020. Since 2001, the two gambling activities have received more than one and a quarter billion euros of taxpayers’ money. Urge the leaders of Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and Labour (who back the grants every year) to stop the funding.

An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar
Telephone: +353 (0)1-6194020
Email: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie, leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LeoVaradkar
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeoVaradkar

Micheál Martin
Leader, Fianna Fail
Email: micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie
Phone: 021-432 0088
Leinster House: 01–618 3000
Leave a comment on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD

Alan Kelly TD
Leader, Labour Party
Tel: 067 34190
Email: alan.kelly@oir.ie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alankellytd/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/alankellylabour

Please contact your local TDs and demand that they vote against this funding. Visit the Oireachtas website for contact details for TDs https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/tds/?term=/ie/oireachtas/house/dail/33

Please sign and share petitions

Ban Blood Sports in Ireland Now
https://www.change.org/petitions/ban-blood-sports-in-ireland

Sinn Fein: Support a ban on cruel hare coursing
https://www.change.org/p/sinn-fein-support-a-ban-on-cruel-hare-coursing

Ireland - Ban cruel hare coursing
www.change.org/p/ireland-ban-cruel-hare-coursing

GAA: Stop club fundraisers at greyhound tracks
https://www.change.org/p/gaa-stop-club-fundraisers-at-greyhound-tracks