Press Release: DAFM, 20 November 2025
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine held a public consultation.
The public consultation opened on 18 June 2024 and closed on 26 July 2024.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine would like to thank everyone who responded to this consultation.
Below is a summary of the outcome of this consultation.
A total of 606 submissions were received.
In Support of the Ban (99%)
604 submissions supported of the ban.
These included submissions from members of the public, animal welfare charities, veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses, greyhound rescue dog owners, greyhound and animal rights advocacy groups, educational bodies and community groups.
Submissions were received from Ireland, Slovenia, Italy and Germany.
Submissions supporting the ban highlighted animal welfare concerns in relation to the use of surgical artificial insemination, the need to give greyhounds equal protection to other breeds of dog, and the legal status of surgical artificial insemination in other countries in which the procedure is banned in dogs.
Not in support of the ban (1%)
2 submissions were received not in support of the ban.
Submissions not in support of the ban considered it acceptable to allow [surgical] artificial insemination of greyhounds by trained veterinary professionals.
Outcome of Public Consultation
To be confirmed by the Minister for Agriculture.
