Written Answers Nos. 451-470
451. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a full payment has not been made to a person (details supplied) for TB in their herd; the timeline for when the farmer will be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13441/26]
View answerBovine TB is an ongoing challenge for Irish farmers. I am acutely aware of the emotional and financial impacts of bovine TB on farmers, their families and rural Ireland.
In addition to the compensation package for eligible reactor animals that are removed during a TB breakdown, my Department operates three supplementary schemes that assist farmers with the indirect losses incurred as a result of a TB breakdown on their farm.
The income supplement scheme is a dedicated support measure which assists herdowners who lose 9.5% or more of their herd as a result of a single bovine TB breakdown. Herdowners who have a a TB restricted herd may move animals into their herd with the permission of their RVO and continue to be eligible for Income Supplement pro-rata (i.e Income Supplement will be reduced in line with the number of animals moved into the herd).
In December 2025 income supplement grants totalling €37,072.17 were prepared for the named herdowner. However, at the payment approval stage it was discovered that the initial figure of €37,072.17 had not been adjusted to accurately reflect the movement of animals into the herd. During the period 27/03/2025-13/05/2025 a total of 53 animals were moved into the herd.
As a result, Income Supplement grants for the period 13/05/2025-12/11/2025 were recalculated, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the scheme to reflect the movements of animals into the herd and reduced payments totalling €12,349.37 were issued to the herdowner on the 1st and 15th December 2025.
Since the beginning of the restriction of this herd the herdowner has received Income Supplement grants totalling €26,041.26 from my Department. The herdowner has a remaining period of eligibility under the scheme from 13/11/2025 -08/01/2026. Income Supplement grants for that period totalling €1,482.46 have been approved and were issued by my Department on the 11th February 2026.
452. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total amount of funding allocated by Rásaíocht Con Éireann to their two dedicated care homes (details supplied) in 2025 and the number of non-coursing greyhounds homed by the operators of these two care homes both domestically and internationally in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13479/26]
View answer453. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total amount of money given to private rehoming organisations by Rásaíocht Con Éireann/Irish Retired Greyhound Trust in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13480/26]
View answer454. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the two increases in prize money announced by Rásaíocht Con Éireann since October 2025, and the absence of an increase in budgetary funding to this organisation in Budget 2026 means that spending on greyhound welfare, specifically in relation to amounts allocated by Rásaíocht Con Éireann to their homing programme (details supplied), will be reduced in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13481/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 452 to 454, inclusive, together.
Rásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) is a commercial state body established under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for RCÉ and, therefore, the question has been referred to that body for direct reply.
455. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline each section of enacted legislation, where the responsibility lies in the Minister to commence that section, that has not been commenced; if he will outline each section of enacted legislation which provides for the making of regulations by the Minister that have not been made by the Minister; if he will outline all sections of enacted legislation or secondary legislation which provide for the publication of guidelines by the Minister that have not been published, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13498/26]
View answerIt is not feasible to provide the information sought by the Deputy. As Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine I have statutory responsibility for a vast range of legislation, extending to statutory functions under extant legislation which pre-dates the foundation of the State.
If the Deputy wishes to specify particular legislation or legislation made during a particular period, my Department will seek to provide a more detailed response.
456. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of matings in the greyhound racing and coursing industries that involved surgical artificial insemination in each of the years 2019 to 2025; the number of those matings that involved the use of semen obtained from a sire deceased at the time the surgical artificial insemination occurred; the date of death of the sire, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13595/26]
View answerThe Irish Coursing Club (ICC) is the organisation charged with the role of Keeper of the Irish Greyhound Stud Book (IGSB) since 1923. The Stud Book records pedigrees, ownerships, breeding data and transfers of ownership of all greyhounds. The ICC is subject to the general control and direction of Rásaíocht Con Éireann.
The ICC has informed my Department that the information outlined below in tabular form has been compiled following a manual search through paper mating certs as its computerised system only allowed for Frozen Semen Insemination or Artificial Insemination. Accordingly, the ICC has informed my Department that it was not possible to distinguish between Surgical or Transcervical Insemination.
The ICC has also informed my Department that, as it no longer has the actual paper copies of mating certs prior to 2024, it is unable to identify the deceased dogs and as such cannot give date of death for the years 2019 to 2023.
|
Year |
Surgical Implant Matings |
Total Implants from Deceased Sires |
Date of Death of the Sire |
|
2019 |
139 |
36 |
|
|
2020 |
142 |
49 |
|
|
2021 |
133 |
30 |
|
|
2022 |
90 |
45 |
|
|
2023 |
33 |
28 |
|
|
2024 |
7 |
3 |
March 2012/January 2014/Sep 2015 |
|
2025 |
0 |
0 |
|
457. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the specific date for making the results of Greyhound Racing Ireland's public consultation on artificial insemination in greyhounds available for public review; to provide a specific timeline in respect of the next steps following this consultation; when a ban on surgical artificial insemination of greyhounds will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13596/26]
View answerRásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) is a commercial state body established under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The question raised by the Deputy on "Greyhound Racing Ireland's public consultation on artificial insemination in greyhounds" is an operational matter for RCÉ and therefore the question has been referred to that body for direct reply.
The Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) announced in April 2024 that it had updated its Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Practitioners to prohibit veterinarians from carrying out surgical artificial insemination in dogs due to ethical and welfare considerations. However, this new prohibition does not apply to greyhounds, as the practice is provided for in legislation under the Artificial Insemination of Greyhound Regulations 2005.
The report of the Working Group on Control of Dogs, which was approved by Government in March 2023, and has been published online at: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-agriculture-food-and-the-marine/publications/working-group-on-control-of-dogs/, includes a recommendation that surgical artificial insemination in canines be prohibited, where the word canine encompasses all breeds of dogs.
In 2024, my Department held a public consultation on whether the practice of carrying out surgical artificial insemination in greyhounds should be banned or not and the results of the public consultation are now available at: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-agriculture-food-and-the-marine/consultations/animal-welfare-strategy-2026-2030/
My Department is closely examining this issue and will be providing advice on an appropriate course of action in the near future.
458. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of active approved centres for artificial insemination of greyhounds, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13597/26]
View answerThe Irish Coursing Club (ICC) is the organisation charged with the role of Keeper of the Irish Greyhound Stud Book (IGSB) since 1923. The Stud Book records pedigrees, ownerships, breeding data and transfers of ownership of all greyhounds. The ICC is subject to the general control and direction of Rásaíocht Con Éireann.
The ICC has informed my Department that the number of active approved centres for artificial insemination of greyhounds, by county is as set out below in tabular form.
|
AI Centres |
6 |
Tipperary 3 |
|
|
|
Laois 2 |
|
|
|
Waterford 1 |
459. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of active approved inseminators for artificial insemination of greyhounds, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13598/26]
View answerThe Irish Coursing Club (ICC) is the organisation charged with the role of Keeper of the Irish Greyhound Stud Book (IGSB) since 1923. The Stud Book records pedigrees, ownerships, breeding data and transfers of ownership of all greyhounds. The ICC is subject to the general control and direction of Rásaíocht Con Éireann.
The ICC has informed my Department that the number of active approved inseminators for artificial insemination of greyhounds, by county is as set out below in tabular form.
|
AI Inseminators |
6 |
Tipperary 3 |
|
|
|
Laois 2 |
|
|
|
Waterford 1 |
460. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of artificial insemination licences issued yearly within the greyhound industry in each of the years 2019 to 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13599/26]
View answerRásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) is a commercial state body established under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for RCÉ and therefore, the question has been referred to that body for direct reply.
461. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the fee cost or other compensation paid directly or indirectly by Greyhound Racing Ireland to social media influencers for the 2025 Irish Greyhound Derby; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13600/26]
View answer462. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of greyhounds homed directly by the greyhound racing industry; the number of greyhounds homed by rescues with the assistance of the greyhound racing industry in 2025; the amount of money paid to rescues to aid the homing of these greyhounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13601/26]
View answer463. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a registered veterinarian attends every race meeting and trial scheduled at Youghal greyhound track in Cork, since 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13602/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 461 to 463, inclusive, together.
Rásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) is a commercial state body established under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The questions raised by the Deputy are operational matters for RCÉ and, therefore, the questions have been referred to that body for direct reply.
464. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of greyhound litters born in Ireland in 2025; the number of individual pups born; the breakdown of coursing versus non-coursing pups of both litters and individual pups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13603/26]
View answerThe Irish Coursing Club (ICC) is the organisation charged with the role of Keeper of the Irish Greyhound Stud Book (IGSB) since 1923. The Stud Book records pedigrees, ownerships, breeding data and transfers of ownership of all greyhounds. The ICC is subject to the general control and direction of Rásaíocht Con Éireann.
The ICC has informed my Department that the number of greyhound litters born in Ireland in 2025; the number of individual pups born; the breakdown of coursing versus non-coursing pups of both litters and individual pups are are set out below in tabular form.
|
Year |
2025 |
|
|
|
Track Litters |
1443 |
4396 Dogs |
4491 Bitches |
|
Coursing Litter |
227 |
666 Dogs |
702 Bitches |
|
Total Litters |
1670 |
|
|
465. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there is a specific law that prohibits the FSAI from giving information to a member of the public enquiring from a human health perspective about which food business operators and retailers are processing animal products for human consumption imported from outside the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13669/26]
View answerThe Food Safety Authority of Ireland is the central competent authority maintaining responsibility for the food chain through service contracts with a number of government agencies and departments, and is under the aegis of the Department of Health.
Traceability in the food chain is provided for under Article 18 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 which requires that all food and feed businesses in the EU implement a traceability system based on the food business operators responsibility to maintain records of ‘one step forward and one step back’ which ensures that they can identify immediate suppliers and customers.
The legal obligations on the FSAI regarding the release of this information to the public is a matter for the FSAI and the Department of Health.
466. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures in place to ensure traceability for Brazilian beef imports under EU and Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine licence conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13670/26]
View answerThe Food Safety Authority of Ireland is the central competent authority maintaining responsibility for the food chain through service contracts with a number of government agencies and departments.
Recording of consignments of meat imports into Ireland is maintained on the EU TRACEs database and is supervised in Ireland by my Department.
Traceability in the food chain is provided for under Article 18 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 which requires that all food and feed businesses in the EU implement a traceability system based on the food business operators responsibility to maintain records of ‘one step forward and one step back’ which ensures that they can identify immediate suppliers and customers. This requirement is applicable to all stages of production with some exceptions. Retail establishments selling meat to the final consumer (e.g. butchers) typically do not fall under the supervision of my Department.
The primary responsibility of maintaining records supporting traceability rests with the food business operator and these records must be made available on demand to authorised officers of the competent authorities who verify compliance. Labelling of meat products, as required by EU Regulation 2011/1169, EU Regulation 1760/2000 (beef traceability) and EU Regulation 1337/2013 (origin of pigs, sheep, goats and poultry) also plays a central role in meat traceability.
The auditing of compliance with traceability recording and the labelling legislative requirements are conducted by my Department in the establishments under its supervision at a frequency determined on a risk-basis.
467. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the protocols for serial numbers or labelling used on Brazilian beef consignments entering Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13671/26]
View answerBeef consignments entering the EU from a third country, including Brazil, must do so through an approved Border Control Post (BCP). At the BCP, consignments are subject to official controls in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/625. These controls include documentary checks, identity checks and, where required, physical examinations and sampling. Consignments that satisfy these controls may be released from the BCP for placing on the market.
All beef consignments entering Ireland, whether from Brazil or from any other third country, must comply with the food labelling requirements applicable to food placed on the market in the European Union.
In particular, beef imported from third countries must adhere to the following EU labelling and traceability legislation:
Regulation (EU) 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers, which sets out the general food labelling requirements including the name of the food and country of origin information where required.
Regulation (EC) 1760/2000 which establishes traceability and labelling requirements for beef and beef products, including:
• a reference or batch code
• identification of the country of slaughter and the slaughterhouse approval number
• identification of the country of cutting and the approval number of the cutting plant
• origin information including provisions specific to beef originating from third countries
468. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to clarify if the exact tonnage of Brazilian beef imports in 2025 is publicly disclosed or is it commercial sensitive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13672/26]
View answerAccording to the Central Statistics Office (CSO), 172 metric tonnes (mt) of beef valued at approximately €1.7m was imported from Brazil in 2025.
This quantity of imported raw beef originating in Brazil equated to 0.42% of the 41,000 mt of beef imported for the relevant period.
41,000 mt is equivalent to 9% of total Irish beef exports during the same period. Further information on agri-food sector trade can be found in chapter six of the [Annual Review and Outlook for Agriculture, Food and the Marine 2024-2025], my Department's annual economic publication.
Note that preliminary trade estimates for 2025 are subject to revision by the CSO.
469. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the percentage of beef sourced from Ireland versus the UK or EU by processors involved in Bord Bia schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13673/26]
View answerThe CSO's meat supply balance shows the quantity of meat available from livestock slaughterings and imports and how it used, principally for sale and consumption in either domestic or export markets. Data for the years 2022 to 2024 shows that imports typically constitute between 6% and 7% of total available beef supply. Note that for this dataset, the raw tonnage of internationally traded meat and meat products is converted by the CSO to its carcass weight equivalent to meet harmonised EU standards in the compilation of supply balance sheets.
Over the past three years, raw beef imports have averaged 37,300 tonnes annually. The preliminary 2025 trade data just released by the CSO shows that beef imports amounted to almost 41,000t and were valued at approximately €288m.
The UK accounted for 36,948t, or 90%, of the total imported volume last year with quantities split almost evenly between GB (53%) and NI (47%). A further 3,402t, or 8%, originated from other EU member states with the remaining 627t, or 2%, coming from non-EU countries.
The import statistics must be viewed in the context of the overall beef trade data which shows that almost 460,000t worth €3.64 billion was exported from Ireland in 2025.
The CSO trade data does not identify individual consignees which may not, in any case, be the end user of the imported product. As this full year data is a preliminary estimate, it may be subject to some revision by the CSO.
470. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if poultry is imported from Brazil by Irish processors, and if so, the percentage of total imports this represents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13674/26]
View answerAccording to Central Statistics Office (CSO) trade data, 9,648 tonnes of poultry valued at some €35 million was imported from Brazil in 2025. Total poultry imports in 2025 were €727 million and 169,533 tonnes. Therefore, imports from Brazil represented 5% by value and 6% by volume.
For context, total agri-food exports from Ireland in 2025 are estimated at a record €20.8 billion, including poultry exports of €347 million. It should be noted that these figures are preliminary estimates which are subject to revision by the CSO. Further information on agri-food sector trade can be found in chapter six of the [Annual Review and Outlook for Agriculture, Food and the Marine 2024-2025], my Department's annual economic publication.
