Senator Chris Andrews (Sinn Fein) has renewed his call for a ban on the “barbaric practice” of surgical artificial insemination.
In a video uploaded to Instagram (23 July 2025), Senator Andrews highlighted the suffering and death in greyhound racing. Speaking outside Shelbourne Park stadium in Dublin, he stated: "The treatment of greyhounds by the racing industry is absolutely barbaric. In 2024, 202 dogs died on race tracks around the state - that's 5% of all dogs put out to race. Hundreds more were seriously injured. That death rate is rapidly increasing and is already the highest on record." https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ioqE1NMJLWY
"But the track fatalities are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to abuse in the greyhound industry," he continued. "Surgical artificial insemination - a barbaric practice in which a dog is sliced open, artificially impregnated and then sewn back up again - is plaguing the industry. Putting greed and profit above decency and well-being of dogs. This inhumane procedure has been banned in many countries and yet our government is dragging its feet. And despite carrying out a consultation, Ministers are still refusing to commit to a ban. We need to change this."
The government must ban surgical artificial insemination of all dogs, including greyhounds. And there must be an end to the state's massive annual grants to Greyhound Racing Ireland - funding that is keeping this cruel, dog-killing gambling activity afloat. Please join calls on Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon to urgently ban surgical artificial insemination. Contact Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Sinn Fein and urge them to stop voting in favour of funding to greyhound racing.
ACTION ALERT
Get in touch with Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon to demand an urgent ban on surgical artificial insemination.
Martin Heydon TD
Minister for Agriculture
Tel: 01-618 3017
Email: minister@agriculture.gov.ie; martin.heydon@oireachtas.ie
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/martinheydonfg
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/martinheydonfg
Don’t go greyhound racing or attend events at greyhound tracks.
Urge the leaders of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Sinn Fein to end the state funding that is keeping the dying greyhound “industry” afloat.
Micheál Martin TD
Leader, Fianna Fail
Email: micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie; info@fiannafail.ie
Tel: 01 619 4000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
X: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD
Simon Harris TD
Leader, Fine Gael
Telephone: 01 281 3727
Email: simon.harris@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
X: http://www.twitter.com/SimonHarrisTD
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DeputySimonHarris
Mary Lou McDonald TD
Leader, Sinn Fein
Tel: (01) 727 7102
Email: marylou.mcdonald@oireachtas.ie
X: 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
SEE ALSO
Why Ireland Must Ban Surgical Artificial Insemination
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2025/07/01/why-ireland-must-ban-surgical-artificial-insemination/
Senator Chris Andrews renews call for ban on surgical AI of greyhounds
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2025/06/23/senator-chris-andrews-renews-call-for-ban-on-surgical-ai-of-greyhounds/
Vets MUST NOT perform painful surgical artificial insemination on (most) dogs
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2024/05/15/vets-must-not-perform-painful-surgical-artificial-insemination-on-most-dogs/
Surgical artificial insemination is a “barbaric and invasive procedure used on greyhounds”
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2025/07/16/surgical-artificial-insemination-is-a-barbaric-and-invasive-procedure-used-on-greyhounds/
Pete the Vet: Greyhounds must not be excluded from surgical AI ban
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2023/05/12/pete-the-vet-greyhounds-must-not-be-excluded-from-surgical-ai-ban/
Ban on surgical AI in dogs ‘will be implemented’
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2023/04/14/ban-on-surgical-ai-in-dogs-will-be-implemented/
Veterinary Council of Ireland Public Consultation – Canine Surgical Artificial Insemination Outcome
https://vci.ie/Utility/News/2024/Veterinary-Council-of-Ireland-Public-Consultation