Exports to China of Irish greyhounds have stopped because airlines will not transport them, Minister of State for Agriculture Andrew Doyle has said.

The Minister said a ban on exports by the Department of Agriculture would not work because they would end up going to another jurisdiction indirectly.

“Exports [to China] have stopped, let’s be honest, because none of the airlines agree to carry them,” Mr Doyle said.

In May, 12 Irish greyhounds were exported to Macau.

Socialist Party TD Ruth Coppinger had asked whether the Minister was going to consider a ban on exports because that was the only safeguard animal welfare organisations were willing to accept.

Mr Doyle said that “everyone should accept that if no mode of transport is available, no greyhounds will be exported”.

He said his officials had met animal welfare organisations in recent weeks.

Ms Coppinger highlighted concerns about the Canidrone stadium in Macau, said to be China’s only greyhound race track.

She said she had been told it was very dangerous and resulted in up to 30 greyhound deaths every month.

The Socialist Party TD said the track had a very poor animal welfare record and that she had been told it was antiquated, too long and narrow.

The export of greyhounds is governed by a code of practice overseen by Bord nag Con, the greyhound authority, Mr Doyle said.

He pointed out that welfare codes for animal transfer also had to be respected.