Results 41-60 of 1,765 for speaker:Joe Flaherty
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harness Racing: Irish Harness Racing Association (17 Apr 2024)
Joe Flaherty: We will follow up with the Minister, Deputy McGrath. As regards the IHRA's tracks, it has acquired the land in Cork. That will be all-weather, similar to Armagh. Is that right?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harness Racing: Irish Harness Racing Association (17 Apr 2024)
Joe Flaherty: What is that? Asphalt?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harness Racing: Irish Harness Racing Association (17 Apr 2024)
Joe Flaherty: The IHRA has one in Dublin that it is doing in a joint venture. Aspirationally, Mr. Flanagan is saying five tracks in Ireland, is it?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harness Racing: Irish Harness Racing Association (17 Apr 2024)
Joe Flaherty: I do not think they will let the trotting back. That might be too aspirational. On that point, we have some closed greyhound tracks. Are they too small for trotting?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harness Racing: Irish Harness Racing Association (17 Apr 2024)
Joe Flaherty: Too small in width or just not long enough? The IHRA is looking at an 800 m track, is it?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harness Racing: Irish Harness Racing Association (17 Apr 2024)
Joe Flaherty: The IHRA did not replicate the Dundalk experience after 2017.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harness Racing: Irish Harness Racing Association (17 Apr 2024)
Joe Flaherty: Has the IHRA looked for sports capital funding for any of its projects to date?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harness Racing: Irish Harness Racing Association (17 Apr 2024)
Joe Flaherty: That is the regional application.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harness Racing: Irish Harness Racing Association (17 Apr 2024)
Joe Flaherty: Very good. As regards the IHRA's other sites, it will probably look at something in the west of Ireland and something in the midlands to give it-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harness Racing: Irish Harness Racing Association (17 Apr 2024)
Joe Flaherty: In limbo.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harness Racing: Irish Harness Racing Association (17 Apr 2024)
Joe Flaherty: Yes.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harness Racing: Irish Harness Racing Association (17 Apr 2024)
Joe Flaherty: The IHRA is applying to the IIP scheme for that.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harness Racing: Irish Harness Racing Association (17 Apr 2024)
Joe Flaherty: I am impressed by everything the witnesses have said and will follow up on the issue with the Minister, Deputy Michael McGrath, to get the IHRA everything it needs to develop the sport. The witnesses have made a strong case.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harness Racing: Irish Harness Racing Association (17 Apr 2024)
Joe Flaherty: I wanted to come back on something that Mr. Flanagan did not touch on. What he said about bringing in breeding mares was interesting. What is the IHRA's stock of breeding mares at the minute? Does the association own them or lease them out, or what does it do with breeding mares?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harness Racing: Irish Harness Racing Association (17 Apr 2024)
Joe Flaherty: On the tracks that are being developed, the IHRA has about 50 stables at those. Surely there is an opportunity for link-ups with local authorities and city councils? That seems obvious, does it not? Then there are the local ETBs. It seems a no-brainer to do it.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harness Racing: Irish Harness Racing Association (17 Apr 2024)
Joe Flaherty: What would the IHRA typically charge per week for board for a stable?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harness Racing: Irish Harness Racing Association (17 Apr 2024)
Joe Flaherty: I know the IHRA has an awful lot to do but is it not a no-brainer for a city council or a local authority, where there is a track like that, to link in and do something educational?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harness Racing: Irish Harness Racing Association (17 Apr 2024)
Joe Flaherty: I suppose it is an animal welfare issue as well. I know we have the issue with the road racing but we have a big issue with animal welfare-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harness Racing: Irish Harness Racing Association (17 Apr 2024)
Joe Flaherty: -----in the ownership of horses, particularly in towns, where there are not adequate facilities. Does the IHRA deal with that issue as well?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harness Racing: Irish Harness Racing Association (17 Apr 2024)
Joe Flaherty: I know that in terms of the IHRA's structure and that, it is relatively recent, and it is probably relying largely on French and American breeding. I understand there has not yet been an Irish trotting stallion and there is no defined Irish breeding line. Is that the case?