"Greyhound Racing Ireland is allowed to get away with murder - literally, the murder of greyhounds" - Sinn Fein Senator Chris Andrews in a Seanad Eireann speech on Thursday (5 March 2026) during which he condemned greyhound racing as "an industry built on deceit and abuse - deceit of the taxpayer and abuse of animals" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPoByaL6NUo
There are "huge numbers dying and being injured" on track, Senator Andrews pointed out, adding that Greyhound Racing Ireland "don't appear to have any interest in ensuring that greyhounds are treated humanely".
He went on to challenge the ongoing state funding for the activity, despite the fact that there is "no accountability, no transparency, no business plan and countless signs that they don't have any interest in spending taxpayers' money wisely or sustainably". He said the State is "happy to pour money into a black hole".
"It is absurd to think that every year, we do not expect a single shred of transparency or accountability from Greyhound Racing Ireland before handing them millions and millions of euros," he added, noting that "this lack of fiscal responsibility would not be tolerated in any other area."
"It is becoming increasingly clear that Greyhound Racing Ireland's own business model is nonsensical, with its transparency register completely failing to serve its purpose," Senator Andrews went on to say. "There is extensive research outlining that the stated figures underpinning Greyhound Racing Ireland's public image are only half-truths, if not pure fabrications, including in relation to the number of current living greyhounds in the industry, the number of deaths, the economic importance of the industry as well as its commercial ability to sustain itself without complete reliance on the public purse."
Watch the speech or read a transcript below. Please join calls on Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Sinn Fein to stop voting in favour of the annual state grants that are propping up this cruel, dog-killing gambling activity.
ACTION ALERT
Don’t go greyhound racing or attend events at greyhound tracks.
Since 2001, Greyhound Racing Ireland has received over €386 million (€386,806,146) in state grants, including €19 million for 2024, €19.82 million for 2025 and €19.82 million for 2026. This is unacceptable and must be stopped.
Tell the leaders of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Sinn Fein to stop the funding and back a ban on greyhound racing.
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
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://youtu.be/ZYTb2qBjlMM
SEE ALSO:
197 greyhounds killed at races in 2025
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2026/02/06/197-greyhounds-killed-at-races-in-2025/
REPORTED GREYHOUND INJURIES AND DEATHS AT IRISH TRACKS
2025: 344 injuries, 197 deaths
2024: 389 injuries, 202 deaths
2023: 257 injuries, 134 deaths
2022: 287 injuries. 122 deaths
2021: 351 injuries. 154 deaths
2020: 255 injuries. 90 deaths
2019: 332 injuries. 119 deaths
2018: 353 injuries. 121 deaths
2017: 357 injuries. 124 deaths
2016: 427 injuries. 139 deaths
2015: 422 injuries. 122 deaths
2014: 266 injuries. 69 deaths (July to Dec 2014)
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
2022 €17,600,000
2023 €18,200,000
2024 €19,000,000
2025 €19,820,000
2026 €19,820,000
TOTAL: €386,806,146
(€386 Million)
Senator Chris Andrews (Seanad Eireann, 5 March 2026):
Every year, Greyhound Racing Ireland is allowed to get away with murder - literally, murder of greyhounds. On track, in particular, huge numbers are dying and being injured. Greyhound Racing Ireland are handed millions of euro in taxpayers' money, with no accountability, no transparency, no business plan and countless signs that they don't have any interest in spending taxpayers' money wisely or sustainably. They don't appear to have any interest in ensuring that greyhounds are treated humanely. As I've raised a number of times [in the Seanad] before, there are huge concerns about abuse within the industry, particularly with regard to breeding practices. It is becoming increasingly clear that Greyhound Racing Ireland's own business model is nonsensical, with its transparency register completely failing to serve its purpose. There is extensive research outlining that the stated figures underpinning Greyhound Racing Ireland's public image are only half-truths, if not pure fabrications, including in relation to the number of current living greyhounds in the industry, the number of deaths, the economic importance of the industry as well as its commercial ability to sustain itself without complete reliance on the public purse.
The reality is that this is an industry built on deceit and abuse - deceit of the taxpayer and abuse of animals. To that end, we need to give real scrutiny towards the guarantee of State funding for that organisation and undertake a review of how they spent the money in the past. It is absurd to think that every year, we do not expect a single shred of transparency or accountability from Greyhound Racing Ireland before handing them millions and millions of euros. This lack of fiscal responsibility would not be tolerated in any other area. There was rightful uproar over the wasteful spending on the bike shed but when it comes to Greyhound Racing Ireland, the State is happy to pour money into a black hole. If Greyhound Racing Ireland sincerely believe that they deserve State funding, they need to prove to the Oireachtas that they will use that funding efficiently and transparently, without animal cruelty.