Paul Murphy TD has called for the immediate closure of four greyhound tracks over serious fire safety concerns. The tracks include one whose fire safety was rated “VERY POOR” and another with a fire escape that was said to be “UNSAFE TO USE IN AN EMERGENCY”.
In a Dail Question this week, the RISE/Solidarity TD for Dublin South-West asked the Minister for Agriculture “if he will order the immediate closure of Enniscorthy, Youghal, Thurles and Kilkenny greyhound tracks in view of fire safety concerns highlighted in two Indecon reports”.
One of the Indecon reports, published in May of this year, noted “fire safety concerns” at Enniscorthy track. An earlier November 2019 report (“Indecon Independent Strategic Review of Irish Greyhound Racing Stadia to Underpin a Viable Long Term Sustainable Industry”) stated that “fire Safety [at Enniscorthy greyhound track]...would need to be reviewed as a matter of priority and a fire risk assessment carried out...The external fire escape needs urgently reviewed due to it being unsafe to use in an emergency”
The 2019 Indecon report also warned that Youghal greyhound track was “judged to be in poor condition and merited a rating of ‘very poor’ on fire safety”. The report stated that “fire safety [at the Youghal track]...would need to be reviewed as a matter of priority and a fire risk assessment carried out”.
The same report also pointed out that “fire safety [at Kilkenny greyhound track]...would need to be reviewed as a matter of priority and a fire risk assessment carried out” and that “the fire signage, emergency lighting and fire detection and alarm system would need to be reviewed and brought up to current standards”.
Regarding Thurles greyhound track, the report stated that “fire safety would need to be reviewed as a matter of priority and a fire risk assessment carried out”.
Replying to Paul Murphy’s Dail Question, the Minister for Agriculture said that “the question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for Bord na gCon [Irish Greyhound Board] and therefore the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.”
In a follow-up response, Irish Greyhound Board CEO, Gerard Dollard stated: “In relation to the tracks mentioned in the Parliamentary Question, it should be noted that Enniscorthy, Thurles and Kilkenny are privately operated tracks and the responsibility in relation to compliance with any relevant Codes rests with the owners of those tracks.”
“In relation to Youghal, the IGB is progressing the relevant assessments suggested in the report to determine if any issues require to be addressed,” he added. “The IGB will be addressing any issues that may arise in conjunction with the Fire Authority.”
ICABS has brought the contents of the Indecon reports to the attention of the fire safety departments of the relevant county councils.
Despite the fire safety warnings in the Indecon reports, the Irish Greyhound Board has shamefully continued to encourage the public (including children) to visit the tracks.
Youghal stadium - where the fire safety was rated “very poor” - is promoted by the IGB as the place to go “if you're looking for something different for a great night out”. The IGB also encourages schools and clubs to organise fundraisers at the gambling venue.
ACTION ALERT
Please contact political party leaders and urge them to permanently end greyhound racing.
Micheál Martin
Leader, Fianna Fail
Email: micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie
Phone: 021-432 0088 OR 01–618 3000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD
Leo Varadkar
Leader, Fine Gael
Telephone: 01-619 4020
Email: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie; leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
Tweet to: http://www.twitter.com/@LeoVaradkar
Leave a comment on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/LeoVaradkar
Eamon Ryan
Leader, Green Party
Tel: 01 618 3894
Email: eamon.ryan@oireachtas.ie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EamonRyanGP/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EamonRyan
Mary Lou McDonald TD
Leader, Sinn Fein
Tel: (01) 727 7102
Email: marylou.mcdonald@oireachtas.ie
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaryLouMcDonald
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MaryLouMcDonaldTD
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
STOP THE STATE FUNDING FOR GREYHOUND RACING
Another €16.8 million of scarce public funds has been approved for greyhound racing for 2020. Since 2001, greyhound racing has received more than a quarter of a billion euros of taxpayers' money. 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
Contact Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and Labour Party TDs and urge them to vote against any further funding for cruel greyhound racing.
Fine Gael TDs
JohnPaul.Phelan@oireachtas.ie,Heather.Humphreys@oireachtas.ie,joe.carey@oireachtas.ie,david.stanton@oir.ie,colm.burke@oireachtas.ie,michael.creed@oireachtas.ie,Simon.Coveney@oireachtas.ie,joe.mchugh@oireachtas.ie,richard.bruton@oireachtas.ie,Eoghan.Murphy@oireachtas.ie,Paschal.Donohoe@oireachtas.ie,Alan.Farrell@oireachtas.ie,emer.higgins@oireachtas.ie,neale.richmond@oireachtas.ie,josepha.madigan@oireachtas.ie,colm.brophy@oireachtas.ie,leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie,jennifer.carrollmacneill@oireachtas.ie,Ciaran.Cannon@oireachtas.ie,hildegarde.naughton@oireachtas.ie,Brendan.Griffin@oireachtas.ie,bernard.durkan@oireachtas.ie,Martin.Heydon@oireachtas.ie,charles.flanagan@oireachtas.ie,kieran.odonnell@oireachtas.ie,Patrick.O'Donovan@oireachtas.ie,peter.burke@oireachtas.ie,fergus.odowd@oireachtas.ie,alan.dillon@oireachtas.ie,michael.ring@oireachtas.ie,helen.mcentee@oireachtas.ie,damien.english@oireachtas.ie,frank.feighan@oireachtas.ie,paul.kehoe@oireachtas.ie,Simon.Harris@oireachtas.ie
Fianna Fail TDs
john.mcguinness@oireachtas.ie,niamh.smyth@oireachtas.ie,brendan.smith@oireachtas.ie,aindrias.moynihan@oireachtas.ie,michael.moynihan.td@oireachtas.ie,micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie,michael.mcgrath@oireachtas.ie,Charlie.McConalogue@oireachtas.ie,sean.haughey@oireachtas.ie,jim.ocallaghan@oireachtas.ie,darragh.obrien@oireachtas.ie,jack@jackchambers.ie,anne.rabbitte@oireachtas.ie,eamon.ocuiv@oireachtas.ie,james.lawless@oireachtas.ie,sean.ofearghail@oireachtas.ie,sean.fleming@oireachtas.ie,barry.cowen@oireachtas.ie,willie.odea@oireachtas.ie,niall.collins@oireachtas.ie,Robert.Troy@oireachtas.ie,dara.calleary@oireachtas.ie,thomas.byrne@oireachtas.ie,marc.macsharry@oireachtas.ie,jackie.cahill@oireachtas.ie,mary.butler@oireachtas.ie,james.browne@oireachtas.ie,jennifer.murnaneoconnor@oireachtas.ie,cathal.crowe@oireachtas.ie,james.oconnor@oireachtas.ie,padraig.osullivan@oireachtas.ie,christopher.osullivan@oireachtas.ie,paul.mcauliffe@oireachtas.ie,john.lahart@oireachtas.ie,cormac@cormacdevlin.ie,normafoley1@eircom.net,joe.flaherty@oireachtas.ie,Stephen.Donnelly@oireachtas.ie
Labour Party TDs
sean.sherlock@oireachtas.ie,aodhan.oriordain@oireachtas.ie,duncan.smith@oireachtas.ie,gerald.nash@oireachtas.ie,Alan.Kelly@oireachtas.ie,brendan.howlin@oireachtas.ie
Please sign and share petitions
Irish Government: Stop Giving Millions of Euro to Cruel Greyhound Racing
https://www.change.org/p/irish-government-stop-giving-millions-of-euro-to-cruel-greyhound-racing
Stop supporting the cruel greyhound industry
https://www.change.org/p/stop-supporting-the-cruel-greyhound-industry
Ban Blood Sports in Ireland Now
https://www.change.org/petitions/ban-blood-sports-in-ireland
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
Tell Gain Pet Nutrition to Stop Sponsoring Greyhound Racing
https://www.change.org/p/jimtracy-glanbia-ie-tell-gain-pet-nutrition-to-stop-sponsoring-greyhound-racing
Sinn Fein: Support a ban on cruel hare coursing
https://www.change.org/p/sinn-fein-support-a-ban-on-cruel-hare-coursing
Please support our campaign with a donation
https://www.paypal.me/banbloodsports