A video is circulating of four young greyhounds in Parteen, County Clare. The conditions they are being kept in are completely unacceptable. An individual passing by heard the four greyhounds crying and upset, so went in to video them. After the video was circulated, Greyhound Racing Ireland inspected the premises and made a couple of comments but gave the premises the all clear. It is very hard to outline here how bad the conditions were. It was absolutely heartbreaking to watch four young dogs be treated like this. Subsequently, after the visit, one of the greyhounds was seen wearing an anti-bark muzzle. These are cruel devices. Most people will not what an anti-bark muzzle is; they will just think it is a muzzle. These muzzles stop the dog from barking but they also stop the dog from drinking and panting and, as they stop the dog from vomiting, it could choke as a result of wearing the anti-bark muzzle. These anti-bark muzzles should be illegal. The person in charge of this building should be made to live in the conditions he subjects these dogs to and then he might realise that it is unacceptable. Maybe having a muzzle on the owner of the dogs would be helpful to stop him from talking and drinking and we will see how he likes it then.

All of this raises a number of issues. Why does Greyhound Racing Ireland inspect itself? That should not be allowed. It is like self-regulation: it will not work, it does not work and it has never worked. There should be an independent dog or animal welfare inspector going into premises like this. It highlights the call by My Lovely Horse Rescue for a Garda animal crime unit which could address incidents like this. Why is the Department of agriculture not intervening? It is responsible for greyhound welfare so it should be sending in its veterinary inspectors, rather than the compromised Greyhound Racing Ireland inspectors. Some of the four dogs had no water. The most bizarre fact in all of this is that An Garda Síochána is investigating the kind and compassionate person who made the video - the person who showed some sort of kindness to these poor dogs who have clearly seen little kindness in their lives so far. I also understand, and it is absolutely bonkers, that An Garda Síochána is looking for a search warrant for Clare Animal Welfare so the person who made the video can be identified. I applaud the person who made the video. I say to them, "Well done for showing some compassion, kindness and caring." The person who blew the whistle on this businessman in County Clare is being investigated, yet the businessman who is abusing these dogs faces no consequences. In Wales and Scotland, they banned greyhound racing. We should be doing the same.