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A REPORT INTO the Irish greyhound industry suggests that financial issues could be helped in part by using stadia for film sets, launches and conferences.
It also recommends that there should be stricter sanctions for people who are found to be abusing greyhounds, and that the Irish Greyhound Board (Bord na gCon) needs to address its underfunded pension pot.
The greyhound racing industry is estimated to be worth more than €0.5bn to the Irish economy.
Money woes
The report, A Review of Certain Matters relating to Bord na gCon, was prepared by Indecon and published by the Department of Agriculture.
It shows that the Bord has been facing a “worrying downward trend since
2006 in most categories of turnover”.
This was reflected in an overall decline in revenue from €63.5 million to €28.2 million in 2013. The scale of the decline is dramatic and represents a fall of 55.6% over the period. The rate of decrease has since slowed.
In 2006, tote receipts were just over €50 million – by 2013 they were €20.9 million.
In addition, since 2007, there has been a decline in sponsorship income by €1.219 million.
Meanwhile, the Bord has an “underfunded” pension plan.
Revenue concerns
The report found that the main concern is that existing revenue “is not sufficient to support the level of current activity in the sector and to commence the repayment of debt”.
This will require a reduction in the number of race meetings and prize money at selected stadia.
Animal welfare
The report identified that as of March 2014 there were no legal, veterinary or marketing experts on the Board.
“These gaps are noteworthy given the regulatory and animal welfare role of the Board,” said Indecon.
It recommends that off-track testing for prohibited substances should be implemented.
It must be recognised that the sector has faced potential reputational damage in recent years concerning aspects of the exercise of regulatory functions, particularly the decisions concerning cases where greyhounds have tested positive for prohibited substances. Indecon believes that a rigorous regulatory control mechanism is essential for the development of the sector and that this view is shared by the Board and Management
The number of positive tests is less than 1% and declining, but the number of positive tests “is of concern”, as are the delays in publishing findings and the gap between positive results and adverse findings.
Indecon said that the present legislation, regulations and processes for provision of integrity services in the greyhound industry should be enhanced.
The report said that that the existing Bord na gCon sanctions regime should be strengthened in fundamental ways to become both a stronger deterrent to animal cruelty and as an effective sanction against those who would still offend.
The range of sanctions available should be expanded and should be applied proactively.
Film sets
Among the recommendations is for the Bord to reduce the number of races at poorly performing stadia to sustainable levels.
It also suggests:
Look at alternative sources of income at stadia – including using them for product launches, conferences, film sets and recreational and sporting activities.
A specific additional breeding incentive should also be considered by Bord na gCon, said the report.
And once its debt is reduced and surpluses generated, additional prize money should be provided.
Minister Tom Hayes said that he will make the necessary legislative changes required to implement a number of the recommendations as a matter of urgency.
Welcoming the report
Bord na gCon welcomed the report, calling it “a thorough and independent review”.
It said it will now consider the report and its recommendations, with a view to putting in a plan to address the issues raised.
This plan will be submitted to the Minister within the three months.
The board believes that the report “can make a very significant contribution to a re-energising and restructuring of the greyhound industry”.
It said it hopes that the report will be a “defining moment for the industry” and will facilitate closer working relationships with all stakeholders.
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Slowly but surely the head chopping,cannibal lunatics are being pushed out of Syria,which can be only news for Syrian Druze,Alawite,Christian and moderate Sunni.
We can all compliment Bassar Al Assad for the great work fighting US backed terrorists in Syria. Only for his army a lot more Christian towns and villages would be annihilated.
Syria hasn’t been in the news for months. There was a name when we got a blow by blow account of the conflict. Not anymore!
Then Ukraine happened.
The war is practically over in Syria, it is now a mop up operation exterminating the rats wherever they happen to show up, good news nearly everyday with the SAA making gains, no news is good news as they say.
Both sides are animals amd criminals with civilians dying in thousands
As much as it pains to say it but in the case of Assad its Better the Devil you know me thinks
Barack Obama is the real Devil…..everything about him points to his number.. You don’t even see this in Assad, Kim Joan Un or Adolph Hitler for that matter…
Plus he is a black-jewish-muslim-illuminatus.
Am I right frank!
‘Western powers and the opposition have dismissed as a farce’ Western powers usually dismiss elections as a farce in which their puppets have no chance of winning.But here’s a litle fact.The Qatari’s who are hardly friendly towards the Assad regime(in fact they fund many of the rebel groups)commisioned a poll in Syria in which over 55 % of respondents said they are in favour of Assad as president .
Do polls really matter in a dictatorship?
That poll taken 2 yrs ago would have said otherwise.
Sadly what started peacefully gave way to another chapter in the millennia old Sunni/Shia grudge match.
The Sunni fanatics turned what support there was for the FSA on its head.
The best Syrians can hope for is a speedy Assad victory.
There was ,little internal support for the FSA to begin with.Most of their support came from outside powers like Turkey,KSA and USA who have an interest in seeing Assad toppled.
What started peacefully? In the first days of the peaceful revolution 88 Syrian troops were ambushed on route to D’araa, where the trouble first began, 24 killed by armed men, this was not reported by the rebels or the Government for the reasons of not showing they were armed or weak respectively, there is many more attacks in those first days that have not been reported.
Congratulations Assad, and what did it get him? Ruins. His country, what’s left of it in tatters, the population scattered all over the Middle East, tens of thousands dead, even more injured, 2 million children displaced. Torture, murder, war crimes, atrocities we couldn’t possibly imagine are commonplace there but, hey, as long as President Bashar Assad gets a city back that’s what’s important, right?
Even if this war ended tomorrow what’s there for all these people to return to, unemployment is running at 33% in the government controlled areas, the other cities are levelled. Estimates vary at what it would take to rebuild Syria, anywhere from $30 to $80 billion, but I’m sure a man who can afford the very best of Russian weaponry can afford than, right?
Victory for the Assad regime is infinitely better then Syria becoming a Wahabbi hellhole,which is what will happen if the rebels are victorious.
Syria under a secular Assad regime is a far more progressive and liberal place then Saudi Arabia.the US’s main Arab allie in the region.
European, I thought Israel was?
@ Jedi night …. Yes you can imagine it ,and in fact you can see What life would have been like if ASsad didn’t knock the crap out of these maniacs , Sadists and psychopathic with the help of Countries that would have been next … Take a look …. But I’d genuinely advise not 2 watch it if you don’t want to see what these death squads are capable of doing with the backing of select politicians here and abroad http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MDoFLLMOlto
Declan, Arabs, Declan, Arabs, think about it….
Meant to say there was a time
Sad to see a war criminal and brutal dictator like Assad being left in power with all the western so called defenders of freedom and human rights like the US looking away simply because of war weariness and because it just doesn’t suit to help out at the moment , where the f*ck has Obama’s red line disappeared to ? Pathetic
All is not as it appears
Let’s not forget Hezbollah’s involvement also
Yes let us not forget to thank Hezbollah and the National Defence Forces for ridding the world of these rodents.
Those tunnel bombs are something else! Along with the beheadings/executions by groups such as al nusra!
Yes, we were always led to believe Hezbollah were evil terrorists by Western Media propaganda when in fact these guys would now be the equivalent of the French Resistance,
The only real fear I have on Syria is Isaiah 17:1
“The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap”.
To date Damascus is currently the oldest city on record and has never been destroyed like so many other cities. Quite possibly by nuclear false flag or something.
Damascus was hit by a small tactical nuke only last year Frank, when Israel targeted a supposed shipment of arms to Hezbollah from Iran.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP1Za-xu8r0
Joe, really? You’re some spoofer…
How is that Charles?
Show us how Israel detonated a nuclear weapon over Syria.
Cheers.
Clink the link provided. Experts have concluded going on that video evidence.
Christ, Joe.
Your posts are drifting dangerously close to “Frank/Nicole/Horgay” levels of stupidity.
How in gods name could that video clip be considered a nuclear weapon?
Stupid stuff.
It’s a tactical Nuke, you know what one is yeah? Look at the plume.
New account btw, wanna tell us what account you were going by before?
Ooookay.
That was just a regular missile or guided bomb, a big one.
From its size probably a 1000lb or 2000, munition I’d wager
- If it was a nuke, the EMP would have rendered the recording device inert.
- The flash would have been blinding (there was none).
- a modern nuclear detonation doesn’t leave a plume like that, not since the 60′s
(Besides it being very obviously a plume from a regular munition).
- And most importantly, the saps recording it would have been vapourised!
Even the smallest nuclear munition will vapourise a 1 km radius, severly damaging further away.
you are also forgetting that practically every modern military on earth can detect a detonation, its flash, it’s EMP & the seismic activity it renders.
And lastly….. If it was a Nuke…. Wouldn’t the video holder, RT say so?
Ridiculous stuff Joe….. Kinda sad really.
However, for sh*ts & giggles though, please tell us why that definitely was a nuclear weapon detonation.
Thanks!
Come on Joe….
Don’t go silent on me.
I need your proof!
Are you an expert?
Oh dear you think I’ve time to sit around looking at thejournal for debate with peoe who have multiple accounts to comment on it, sadly not much fun as it would be…
Firstly are the Israeli government crazy enough to use a nuclear weapon, most certainly, but would they admit it, most likely not.
Secondly would the Syrians admit they were bombed using such weapons? Probably not for obvious reasons.
Thirdly you can just google it yourself and see the results, there’s argument for and against the accusation, but it’s open to your own interpretation of course.
http://www.veteranstoday.com/2013/05/11/was-syria-nuked/
Still looking for the proof buddy.
You aren’t offering any!
And here is a follow up story to this (2 days old news btw) that you will definitely NOT read on thejournal.
Militants break agreement, suspend evacuation of Homs
http://presstv.com/detail/2014/05/07/361696/homs-evacuation-of-militants-suspended/
Job for the yanks
By Proxy….They need to recruit more terrorists.
Bout time order was restored to that part of the world
have your say