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Pro-coursing Fianna Fail TD Niall Collins is pushing for a massive ONE MILLION EURO grant to Kilkenny greyhound track.
In a Dail Question this month, Collins - who holds the position of "Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science" - asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine "the status of funding for a project (details supplied)"
Minister Charlie McConalogue told him that Greyhound Racing Ireland "made an application to my Department for approval of a grant of €1 million towards the redevelopment of Kilkenny Greyhound Stadium [and] this application is currently being considered by officials from my Department." https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2022-03-01/865/#pq_865
In an appeal to the Minister to reject the grant application, ICABS highlighted the falling attendance at tracks and the majority view that the government should stop funding greyhound racing.
We also reminded him about all the greyhounds who suffer and die at Kilkenny stadium. At least 89 suffered injuries there and 31 were killed since 2015 alone. Last year, the track recorded its highest number of injuries (18) and deaths (12) since records began. The stadium ranked second worst in the country (after Dundalk track) for the percentage of injured greyhounds who were “euthanised by vet” (66%).
A RED C opinion poll has shown that a two-thirds majority want the government to stop the funding that is propping up greyhound racing, with just 16 per cent wanting the funding to continue. Since 2001, Greyhound Racing Ireland has received more than a quarter of a billion euros of public funds.
Niall Collins has continued to back the funding despite public opposition. Between 2016 and 2021, the Limerick County TD has voted in favour of €336 million in funding to Horse Racing Ireland and Greyhound Racing Ireland.
He also supports cruel hare coursing and was among the TDs who, in 2016, voted against Deputy Maureen O’Sullivan’s bill which sought to ban the bloodsport.
In an advert published in a coursing meeting booklet in 2020, he conveyed “best wishes to Castleisland Coursing Club”
In December 2020, people reacted with disgust to a Facebook post from Niall Collins about his support for another €96 million government grant to horse and greyhound racing. Deputy Collins included a graphic of a horse along with the message “Fianna Fail in government supports our horse and greyhound industries. Today we approved €96 million for 2021 to support investment, jobs and improved animal welfare. Greyhound – €19.2 million / Horses – €76.8 million.” Many of those who responded to the post expressed anger at the squandering of taxpayers’ money on the two gambling activities. “Make no mistake – this is absolutely nothing to be proud about,” one person commented. “It disgusts me and many others that you are funding animal cruelty…There are so many better uses for that money.” Another described Deputy Collins’ post as “a political party shooting itself in the foot” https://www.facebook.com/banbloodsports/posts/3689629337819264
ACTION ALERT
Join us in urging Minister Charlie McConalogue to say NO to a million euro grant to Kilkenny greyhound track and end the government’s funding of horse and greyhound racing.
Charlie McConalogue
Minister for Agriculture
Tel: 01 618 3199 or 01 607 2000
Email: minister@agriculture.gov.ie; charlie.mcconalogue@oireachtas.ie
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CharlieMcConalogue
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@McConalogue
Complain to Niall Collins TD about his shameful support for greyhound racing and hare coursing.
Niall Collins TD (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
Email: niall.collins@oireachtas.ie
Tel: (01) 618 3577
Twitter: @NiallCollinsTD
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NiallCollinsTD
Don’t go greyhound racing or attend events at greyhound tracks. Urge the leaders of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, the Green Party and Sinn Fein to stop the funding and back a ban on dog-killing greyhound racing
Micheál Martin TD
Leader, Fianna Fail
Email: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie; micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie; info@fiannafail.ie
Phone: 021-432 0088
Leinster House: 01–618 4350
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD
Leo Varadkar TD
Leader, Fine Gael
Telephone: 01-619 4020
Email: leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@LeoVaradkar
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeoVaradkar
Eamon Ryan TD
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
Please sign and share the petitions
Stop supporting the cruel greyhound “industry”
https://www.change.org/p/stop-supporting-the-cruel-greyhound-industry
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
Watch RTE’s award-winning “Greyhounds Running For Their Lives” documentary
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYTb2qBjlMM
Please support our campaign with a donation
https://www.paypal.me/banbloodsports