The Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) in April 2024 updated its Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Practitioners to prohibit veterinarians from carrying out surgical artificial insemination in dogs due to ethical and welfare considerations. However, this new prohibition does not apply to greyhounds, as the practice is provided for in legislation under the Artificial Insemination of Greyhound Regulations 2005.

The report of the Working Group on Control of Dogs, which was approved by Government in March 2023, and has been published online at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/0d6d7-working-group-on-control-of-dogs/#report-of-the-working-group-on-the-control-of-dogs, includes a recommendation that surgical artificial insemination in canines be prohibited, where the word canine encompasses all breeds of dogs.

In 2024, my Department held a public consultation on whether the practice of carrying out surgical artificial insemination in greyhounds should be banned or not and the results of the public consultation are now available on: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-agriculture-food-and-the-marine/publications/animal-welfare/#surgical-artificial-insemination-in-greyhounds.

In compliance of section 5 of the Greyhound Racing Act, S.I. No. 15 of 2019, Rasaiocht Con Eireann held a public consultation in relation to greyhounds which closed on 16th January 2026 this year to seek feedback from industry stakeholders on draft regulations available on their website, including Artificial Insemination of Greyhounds Regulations.

Section 26 of the Greyhound Racing Act 2019 which relates to the artificial insemination of greyhounds is being considered on foot of this consultation. My Department is closely examining this issue and will be providing advice on an appropriate course of action in the near future.