Labour Party leader, Alan Kelly, and his predecessor Brendan Howlin are putting pressure on the government to allow cruel greyhound racing to resume - this despite them being aware that thousands of dogs are mercilessly killed every year in greyhound racing, including dogs shot in the head and dumped in skips.
In a Dail question this week, Alan Kelly TD asked Agriculture Minister, Michael Creed “if he was requested by persons in government or in a Department or NPHET to give his views on when greyhound racing should recommence here; if so, the way in which he was requested; if so, the person or persons that made the request; and his response to same”
As reported last week, in pushing for a resumption of greyhound racing, Alan Kelly TD (Tipperary) repeated a false claim from the Irish Greyhound Board that "greyhound racing successfully complied with all COVID-19 protocols when it was operated on a closed-door basis during March this year".
Quoted on the Tipperary Live website, Deputy Kelly stated: "The plans to allow horse racing meetings resume behind closed doors from June 8th while not allowing greyhound racing meetings to go ahead from that date in similar circumstances is just baffling and the government needs to explain it. Greyhound racing successfully complied with all COVID-19 protocols when it was operated on a closed-door basis during March this year. It is very difficult to understand why greyhound racing isn't being assessed as being capable of operating behind closed doors given that the industry has done more work in their stadiums to meet the necessary protocol. Greyhound Racing is one of the safest sports as it is based on one man one dog so therefore social distancing can very easily be maintained."
Before repeating the IGB’s false claim, Deputy Kelly had been told about video evidence on the Irish Greyhound Board website which shows track staff and greyhound owners/trainers blatantly ignoring social distancing guidelines in March. The footage also shows individuals in near-empty stands shoulder-to-shoulder watching races - see video stills at https://www.flickr.com/photos/icabs/albums/72157713579485482
Brendan Howlin TD (Wexford) - the Labour Party leader before Alan Kelly - also questioned Minister Creed about the resumption of greyhound racing, asking “if he has received submissions from an association in relation to the reopening of greyhound racing; if he plans to proceed at the same pace as horse racing; and if he will make a statement on the matter“.
In the past four years, Deputy Howlin has voted in favour of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations which granted €80 million/€80 million/€84 million/€84 million of taxpayers’ money to horse and greyhound racing.
A third Labour Party TD, Seán Sherlock joined Alan Kelly and Brendan Howlin in questioning the Minister. The Cork East TD who has declared in the past that he is “in favour of field sports and coursing” asked Minister Creed this week “when it will be permitted to allow greyhound racing again under the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business”.
The Labour Party is continuing to back the nasty greyhound “industry”, despite all the recent revelations about cruelty and killing. As highlighted by "RTE Investigates: Greyhounds Running For Their Lives", around 6,000 greyhounds are killed every year simply because they are not fast enough to win races. The programme featured shocking scenes of greyhounds being delivered to a knackery where they were SHOT IN THE HEAD and dumped in a skip.
“This should be reason enough for you and the Labour Party to update your inadequate animal welfare policies to include support for a ban on greyhound racing,” we stated in an email to Alan Kelly TD. “This would be widely welcomed by the public, the majority of whom were disgusted at the content of the RTE documentary.”
The disturbing content of the RTE programme led to:
- Failte Ireland ending its promotion of greyhound racing due to fears that it is damaging Ireland's reputation as a tourist destination,
- Multiple companies withdrawing sponsorship, including Barry's Tea and FBD Insurance.
- Numerous companies removing greyhound racing from their websites (including, most recently, Eir Sport, Dublin Bus and Air France which deleted Shelbourne Park from 44 of its international websites)
- Protests outside tracks and boycotts of racing.
A RED C opinion poll conducted in September showed that a two thirds majority want the government to stop the massive state grants that are propping up the cruel, dog-killing activity.
ACTION ALERT
Contact Alan Kelly TD and urge him to update the Labour Party's inadequate animal welfare policies to include support for a ban on greyhound racing, hare coursing and foxhunting.
Alan Kelly TD
Leader, Labour Party
Tel: 067 34190
Email: alan.kelly@oir.ie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alankellytd/
Twitter: @alankellylabour
Complain to the Labour Party and Deputies Brendan Howlin and Sean Sherlock about their support for greyhound racing.
The Labour Party
2 Whitefriars, Aungier Street, Dublin 2
Tel: 01 678 4700
Email: info@labour.ie
https://www.facebook.com/thelabourparty/
https://twitter.com/labour
Alan Kelly TD (Tipperary)
Tel: (0505) 24328, (052) 612 7544 or (01) 618 3229
Email: alan.kelly@oireachtas.ie
http://www.facebook.com/alankellylabour
http://www.twitter.com/alankellylabour
Brendan Howlin TD (Wexford)
Tel: (01) 618 3538 or (053) 912 4036
Email: brendan.howlin@oireachtas.ie
http://twitter.com/brendanhowlin
Sean Sherlock TD (Cork East)
Tel: (022) 535 23, (087) 740 2057 or (01) 618 4049
Email: sean.sherlock@oireachtas.ie
http://www.facebook.com/SeanSherlockTD
http://www.twitter.com/@seansherlocktd
Please support our campaign with a donation
https://www.paypal.me/banbloodsports
SEE ALSO
The leader of the Labour Party, Alan Kelly TD, is being urged to withdraw a statement he issued in which he claims that "greyhound racing successfully complied with all Covid 19 protocols when it was operated on a closed-door basis during March this year". Deputy Kelly, who is pushing for racing to resume, has been told that the claim is completely FALSE. https://www.facebook.com/banbloodsports/photos/a.463548137094083/2935736796541859
Greyhound injuries and deaths at Irish greyhound tracks
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2019/03/27/greyhound-injuries-and-deaths-at-irish-greyhound-tracks/
Watch “RTE Investigates: Greyhounds Running For Their Lives” 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