The New Zealand Government has proposed banning greyhound racing from 2026, prompting the question of if Ireland will follow.

The reason for New Zealand proposing this ban is that the percentage of dogs injured in races remain significantly high.

The greyhound racing industry there, like in Ireland, has faced long criticism for not doing enough to protect animal welfare.

Greyhound Awareness Cork spokesperson Katie Corcoran told The Hard Shoulder she believes that Ireland will “follow” New Zealand in this ban.

“Already this year the very last track in Mexico shut down, so that's one more country [where] there's no longer greyhound racing,” she said.

“It's inevitable here - the public are not really that interested in greyhound racing anymore, judging by their attendance.”

Ms Corcoran said she has been informed that there is a track in Cork where the average attendance for the year was three people.

She said there is “a lot more awareness” about the “inherent cruelty” in greyhound racing.

“Matter of choice”

Also on the show, Independent Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae said he disagrees with Ms Corcoran’s belief that Ireland will follow New Zealand.

“There's a matter of choice in Ireland,” he said.

“Choice is a big word in Ireland at the moment, in people's private lives and in every aspect of their lives.

“If we have genuine people, and if it is their choice that as a hobby or as a sport that they follow horses and dogs - that's their choice.”

Deputy Healy-Rae said that there is a “long tradition” in the greyhound industry of people keeping greyhounds as pets – “much loved, much wanted pets”.

“There's also a small, little matter of only 11,000 jobs that are hinged on this sport,” he said.

“They won't be happy until there's weeds growing over our race.”

The slow greyhounds

Ms Corcoran said the report that Deputy Healy-Rae is referring to about the number of jobs and the environmental impact is “actually from 2019”.

“I know that you're going to wax lyrically about greyhounds on the on the beach down in Kerry but what about all the greyhounds that are dying at the greyhound track?

“[For] one fast greyhound, you actually have to breed a whole litter, and normally the litter sizes are about eight, and it's legal for a greyhound to have eight litters in Ireland.

“So the question is, what happens all the slow greyhounds?”

“Love their animals”

Deputy Healy-Rae said people who might breed greyhounds or “go coursing” actually “love their animals”.

“An inevitable part of any life is that there is also death,” he said

“Every human being that comes into this world is going to die, every animal that is born is going to die at some stage or the other.”

Ms Corcoran rebutted Deputy Healy-Rae’s comments, saying that one-fifth of the recorded greyhounds born in 2021 are dead or unaccounted for.

“That's a dog that's three years old,” she said.

“I have a rescue greyhound - she's 10 years old, she's going to live, hopefully, until 14-years-old.

“So, why is it okay for a three year old Greyhound to be dead?

“I mean, yes, every animal will die, but [that] doesn't mean that we have to gamble on their lives - it's not okay for them to die just because we [want to] gamble.”

Deputy Healy-Rae emphasised that there is a “€315-million return” from the industry.
He said he would like to thank “the politicians and the Governments who have supported this industry”.

Listen back here: