Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Heydon raised a question. If the Minister was aware of the revenue generated by sport in general, apart from horse racing, in the Irish economy, he would know that revenue from sport in general is worth more to the Irish economy than is revenue from the horse racing industry. That is a fact based on figures from the Irish Sports Federation. It is worth €1.8 billion in GNP and it employs 38,000 people; they receive less funding and more people would benefit from funding, if available, through Irish Sports Council than the horse racing industry. That industry is hugely important to the Irish economy and I support it and the great work that has been done since 2001. However, I do not support the fact that taxpayers' money is being allocated to support an industry that is perceived, and it may well only be a perception, to be an industry that is elitist in nature. If the funding for 2014 was as important to the industry as everyone around the table is saying it is, then steps would have been taken to broaden the tax base in regard to online betting and the €4.6 billion which is generated-----