Action Needed: Irish Government May Use International Rescue Funds to Pay for Racing- including expansion into China
Haven’t we heard this refrain before?
From Grey2KUSA: and Greyhound Compassion
In 2009, the Bord na gCon, a semi-state body responsible for the control and development of the greyhound industry in Ireland, received €13.6 million in government subsidies. In 2010, it received €11 million. Now, this racing proponent is seeking another €15 million – in part from an EU-IMF bail-out fund intended to help the Irish people. This outrageous use of public funds must be stopped.
- Ireland is in receipt of a bail-out from the IMF/EU/ECB. In December 2010, the IMF approved a 3 year extended fund facility arrangement (EFF) for Ireland amounting to €22.5 bn, which is part of an international rescue package worth €85 billion. The governments of the UK, Sweden and Denmark are contributing to the financial rescue package for Ireland in addition to their membership of the IMF. All of this is coming from tax payers around the world.
- The Irish government’s National Recovery Plan is a component of the international rescue package. As part of the National Recovery Plan, universal social welfare benefits will be cut in Ireland but the bail-out should not disadvantage the most vulnerable groups in society. This remains a core policy objective for the Irish Government.
- The Bord na gCon is a commercial semi-state body responsible for the control and development of the greyhound industry in Ireland. The Bord na gCon received €13.6m from the Irish government in 2009 and around €11m in 2010. Incidentally, the Bord na gCon is now in need of €15m to develop a business venture in China where it intends to build racing stadia and infrastructure.
Please Take Action
E-mail Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny (webmaster@taoiseach.gov.ie) and Minster of Finance Michael Noonan (webmaster@finance.irlgov.ie). Tell them that dog racing is inhumane and the last thing they should be doing is spending public money to prop up a cruel and despicable industry.
Please also take a moment to sign and share GREY2K’s petition.
Related articles
- Ireland to receive 1.5bn euros (bbc.co.uk)
- IMF Urges Flexibility for Ireland (online.wsj.com)
- IMF approves $2.11 billion of bailout funds to Ireland (huffingtonpost.com)
- Ireland gets £1.2bn IMF payout (guardian.co.uk)
