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 Cabinet in March 2023, and has been published online at www.gov.ie/en/publication/0d6d7-working-group-on-control-of-dogs/#report-of-the-working-group-on-the-control-of-dogs, includes a recommendation that surgical artificial insemination in canines ought to be prohibited, where the word canine encompasses all breeds of dogs, including greyhounds.
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. This public consultation has now closed, and will contribute to the legislative process. The results of the public consultation will be published in due course.
My Department is closely examining this issue and will be providing advice on an appropriate course of action in the near future.
