A greyhound co-owned by Labour Party leader, Alan Kelly TD was used in racing on Saturday at Shelbourne Park stadium - a venue where Covid-19 social distancing breaches have occurred. The greyhound named Akay Forty Seven finished fifth, winning €20 for the two co-owners, including the Tipperary TD who is also the Labour Party’s health spokesperson.
Up to 72 greyhound owners/trainers, plus stadium staff, were allowed to enter Shelbourne Park - all exempt from the government's current 5km travel limit.
In January, Shelbourne Park moved to facilitate those travelling from other parts of Ireland to track, announcing in a statement that "in these current times, when strict restrictions are in place due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the decision has been made to kick off racing a little earlier at Shelbourne Park. It should suit those travelling from the country."
It was 2-year-old greyhound Akay Forty Seven's 11th race and his third at the Dublin track in the past month.
Before that, on 26th January, the greyhound was raced at Waterford stadium - another track where Covid-19 breaches have occurred.
Less than two hours after his greyhound won that race, Alan Kelly appeared on RTE’s Prime Time programme and told viewers: “The numbers of [Covid19] cases are coming down because of the efforts of ALL the people. We are going to have to put in stronger measures as the numbers come down in order to suppress this virus...I think government has made mistakes. Opposition has made mistakes. We've all made mistakes. Now is the time to get ahead of this.”
One of the mistakes must surely be allowing greyhound tracks to remain open. It is time for the government to rectify this and shut down greyhound racing NOW.
Deputy Kelly continues to be involved with greyhound racing despite fears that greyhound owners travelling back and forth to tracks from all corners of the country may be spreading coronavirus when they return to their communities.
There is growing anger that while just 10 people are allowed to attend a funeral and 6 a wedding (whether indoors or outdoors), over 70 greyhound owners and trainers are allowed to travel to every race meeting. One person is allowed entry with each greyhound, with track staff also in attendance. They are all exempt from the 5km travel limit.
“We implore you to urgently act in the interests of public health and stop all greyhound racing,” ICABS stated in an appeal to Minister Donnelly and Taoiseach Micheál Martin. “Greyhound racing is entirely incompatible with social distancing. Typically at the start of each race, up to six greyhound owners lift greyhounds into the traps. Again, at the end of the races, the same six people rush in together to retrieve and remove their dogs to clear the track for the next race. With around 10-13 races per meeting and six greyhounds per race, this means that there are up to 60-78 close contacts by owners/trainers at the beginning and end of races at each meeting.”
“Greyhound Racing Ireland assured the government that social distancing (which it acknowledged is ‘a critical measure to be observed by all’) would be ‘fully observed at all times’ at tracks. This has certainly not happened,” we added.
Greyhound Racing Ireland is continuing to hide damning scenes of social distancing breaches at tracks. After races, the video is swiftly panned away to hide the moment six people rush in to get their dogs. In other cases the footage is purposely darkened to obscure the view.
Alan Kelly TD - who has praised those involved in racing as “some of the most decent and honourable people one will ever meet” - supports massive government grants to greyhound racing. In 2018, he voted in favour of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations which granted €16.8 million of taxpayers’ money to greyhound racing. In December 2020, he stated in a Dail speech that he and the Labour Party “will be supporting” a massive increase in funding to horse and greyhound racing. The two were granted €96 million for 2021 - €76.8 for horse racing and €19.2 million for greyhound racing.
The latest grant for greyhound racing was €2.4 million more than the amount handed out in 2020. Since 2001, Greyhound Racing Ireland (formerly the Irish Greyhound Board) has received more than quarter of a billion euros in state funding.
ACTION ALERT
Ask Alan Kelly TD why, despite the inherent cruelty and killing in greyhound racing, and ongoing breaches of COVID-19 social distancing guidelines, he is continuing to support and involve himself in it.
Alan Kelly TD
Leader, Labour Party
Tel (01) 618 3229
Email: Alan.Kelly@oireachtas.ie
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/alankellytd
Twitter https://twitter.com/alankellylabour/
Urge the Labour Party to end its support for greyhound racing, an activity that causes so much suffering and death to dogs.
The Labour Party
2 Whitefriars, Aungier Street,
Dublin 2, Ireland. D02 A008
Tel: +353 1 6784700
Email: info@labour.ie
Facebook https://facebook.com/thelabourparty
Twitter https://twitter.com/labour
Irish Government grants to greyhound racing
2001 €11,777,583
2002 €13,613,163
2003 €12,837,200
2004 €13,382,800
2005 €13,670,000
2006 €14,012,000
2007 €14,572,000
2008 €15,257,000
2009 €13,625,600
2010 €11,852,800
2011 €11,460,000
2012 €11,258,000
2013 €11,004,000
2014 €10,844,000
2015 €13,600,000
2016 €14,800,000
2017 €16,000,000
2018 €16,000,000
2019 €16,800,000
2020 €16,800,000
2021 €19,200,000
Total: €292 Million (€0.292 Billion)
Source: Department of Agriculture