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70% of the Irish electorate oppose government funding to cruel, dog-killing greyhound racing, a new opinion poll has found.
The survey carried out by Norstat on behalf of GREY2K USA Worldwide revealed that:
70% oppose greyhound racing subsidies, while only 11% support them.
51% believe greyhounds bred for racing have a bad quality of life, versus 27% who believe they have a good quality of life.
52% think members of the Dáil should vote to phase out greyhound racing, while only 26% are against the idea.
Just 35% think greyhound racing is important to the economy.
Ahead of the general election, those polled were also asked: “If a candidate for the Dáil supported the Irish government spending €19 million to subsidise commercial greyhound breeding and racing, would that make you more or less likely to vote for that candidate?”
59% said they would be unlikely or much less likely to vote for such candidates, with just 11% saying they would be more likely to vote for them.
“Collectively, these results speak volumes and confirm that the Irish public stands firmly against the cruelty of dog racing,” commented GREY2K USA Worldwide’s Director of Research, Patrick Baga. “Greyhound advocates have not forgotten the 2019 RTÉ Investigates: Greyhounds Running For Their Lives documentary which revealed that nearly 6,000 Irish greyhounds are killed each year for not being fast enough. And since that time, this shameless industry has completely failed to reform itself! Greyhounds continue to die on the track at a record pace, and thousands of puppies born in 2021 have been pronounced dead or missing before the tender age of four.”
Mr Baga added: “No matter where dog racing exists, the global community will not condone an economy that is built upon cruelty. The Irish Government now has a marvellous opportunity to listen to the people and stop supporting dog racing now. Whether in Ireland, the United States or worldwide, together we can defeat this terrible industry wherever it exists.”
Read the full results of the opinion poll at
https://www.grey2kusa.org/about/worldwide/ireland-survey-results.php
Since 2001, the Irish Government has handed out more than €367 million to Greyhound Racing Ireland.
In October, a majority of TDs - mostly from Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, the Green Party and Sinn Fein - shamefully voted in favour of €19,820,000 more in funding to greyhound racing. Those who voted against the funding were from Solidarity - People Before Profit, Social Democrats, Right To Change and Independents 4 Change. 3 Independents and 3 TDs from the Labour Party also voted against it.
ACTION ALERT
Urge the leaders of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, the Green Party, Sinn Fein and Labour to stop the funding and back a ban on dog-killing greyhound racing
Taoiseach Simon Harris TD
Leader, Fine Gael
Email: simon.harris@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
Telephone: +353 (0)1 618 3805 or +353 (0)1 889 2442
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/SimonHarrisTD
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DeputySimonHarris
Tanaiste Micheál Martin TD
Leader, Fianna Fail
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
Roderic O’Gorman TD
Leader, Green Party
Tel: (01) 6642052
Email: roderic.ogorman@oireachtas.ie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RodericOG/
Twitter: https://x.com/rodericogorman
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
Ivana Bacik TD
Leader, The Labour Party
Tel: (01) 6183136
Email: ivana.bacik@oireachtas.ie
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ivanabacik
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bacikivana/
SEE ALSO
€99.1 million more in state funding for horse and greyhound racing: Find out how your TDs voted
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2024/10/24/e99-1-million-more-in-state-funding-for-horse-and-greyhound-racing-find-out-how-your-tds-voted/
Watch “RTE Investigates: Greyhounds Running For Their Lives”
https://youtu.be/ZYTb2qBjlMM