Despite being presented with evidence of multiple, ongoing breaches of Covid-19 social distancing guidelines at greyhound tracks around Ireland, the Department of Agriculture is incredibly defending the continuation of the activity.
Responding to correspondence from the Irish Council Against Blood Sports, a Department spokesperson stated that Greyhound Racing Ireland “has assured this Department that it has consistently operated in accordance with all measures necessary to combat the spread of Covid-19”.
“Greyhound Racing Ireland has assured this Department that it has in place a comprehensive Covid-19 response plan to ensure that compliance with Covid-19 protocols is adhered to in respect of greyhound racing activities,” he added.
The response from the Department comes after evidence was presented showing individuals side-by-side at tracks ignoring the 2-metre social distancing guidelines and running in together to retrieve greyhounds at the end of races and standing.
Images of individuals standing next to each other in the car park of a greyhound track were also brought to the Department’s attention. This evidence was also ignored, with the Department spokesperson stating: “Greyhound racing is operating behind closed doors on the basis of ‘one person / one dog’ and owners/trainers are required to wait in their cars in the car parks to be called for their race...”
In an email to Agriculture Minister, Charlie McConalogue last month, ICABS pointed out that the “one person, one dog policy” at tracks does not eliminate the risk of the spread of coronavirus at tracks due to the close contacts that take place before and after every race.
“Greyhound racing is entirely incompatible with the government's social distancing guidelines,” we told Minister McConalogue. “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, meaning multiple close contacts are occurring at each meeting. As you know, those involved in greyhound racing have been exempted from the 5km travel restrictions and remain free to travel from all corners of the country to attend races at one or more tracks. There are fears that this is a factor in the spread of Covid-19.”
Over the past year, ICABS has presented information to Minister McConalogue, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly and the Taoiseach and Tanaiste showing that COVID-19 guidelines are being repeatedly breached at greyhound tracks. We have exposed as FALSE, the claims by Greyhound Racing Ireland that it has "successfully complied with all COVID-19 protocols".
Video evidence on its own website shows track staff and greyhound owners/trainers blatantly ignoring social distancing guidelines. Individuals have been seen standing shoulder-to-shoulder watching races in stands and track car parks.
The continuation of greyhound racing is making a mockery of public health guidelines and must be stopped.
ACTION ALERT
Contact Health Minister Stephen Donnelly, Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue, Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Tanaiste Leo Varadkar today and urge them to shut down greyhound racing NOW.
Health Minister, Stephen Donnelly
Tel: (01) 201 7300 or (01) 618 3041
Email: ministersoffice@health.gov.ie
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DonnellyforWicklow
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DonnellyStephen
Charlie McConalogue
Minister for Agriculture
Tel: (01) 618 3199
Email: charlie.mcconalogue@oireachtas.ie
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CharlieMcConalogue
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@McConalogue
Micheál Martin, Taoiseach
Email: micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie; info@fiannafail.ie
Phone: +353 (0)1–618 4350 or +353 (0)21-432 0088
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD
Leo Varadkar, Tánaiste
Telephone: +353 (0)1-640 3133
Email: leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
Tweet to: @LeoVaradkar
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeoVaradkar
Watch RTE’s award-winning "Greyhounds Running For Their Lives" documentary at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYTb2qBjlMM
Please support our campaign with a donation
https://www.paypal.me/banbloodsports