Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses. Their presentations were succinct and they have set a standard for future presentations to the committee. They must be complimented on the structure of their presentation because sometimes we are faced with long-winded presentations with neither head nor tail to them.

I would like to see representatives of all the bodies we have met on the HRI committee. The Indecon report recommended a reduction in the board size but have the representative groups given any thought to that recommendation? We are faced with a Hobson's choice. I think the points made by all witnesses must be taken note of, because we need to ensure that people with detailed knowledge of the industry are appointed as well as those who represent various facets of the industry. The stable hands have a different representational value from jockeys, owners and everybody else. It is important that they all come together so that the different niche interests are involved. Perhaps we could make a recommendation on the level of representation on HRI. Many of the suggestions that have been made on the membership and general function of the HRI are worthy of consideration. I come from County Westmeath, which is horsey country and I have seen the significant drop in the level of activity of racing and breeding. I am not surprised, as I used to be a horse owner. Has anybody given any thought to the demands of HRI - from the time one gets up in the morning to the time one goes to bed at night, the HRI is looking for money from the horse owners? I remember getting letters every morning, the wife was nearly going to set fire to some of the stuff that was coming in the post. Apart from the recession and other expenses, why should the HRI charge for renewing the colours every year? The colours do not change. Is the HRI efficient? It seems to be looking for money for everything. In fairness, one can bargain with the trainers but one cannot bargain with HRI, because when it demands it gets the money. I was certainly perplexed by the number of demands for various things from the HRI.

I know that many small bookmakers are struggling, especially those on the main streets and in rural areas. The industry has employment opportunities in every corner.

I was particularly interested in the presentation made by the chief executive of the Irish Jockeys Association, Mr. Andrew Coonan. I would like to see a proper appeals mechanism in place because some of the measures that can be imposed upon on jockeys, which is their livelihood, can be fairly draconian. I was surprised at the point he made about seeking a specific right of appeal to the High Court to be set out. That is almost taken for granted because one can go to the High Court by way of injunction or by judicial review. As it is an administrative decision, one has a right of doing those things, they are costly and I know where he is coming from, not every jockey has a deep pocket and while one or two may be doing well, many are just struggling. Did Mr. Coonan consider seeking a right of appeal to the Circuit Court because the Circuit Court has increased competence and increased jurisdiction and that would be a cheaper option? It would involve lower costs than the High Court. Mr. Coonan states that the racing regulatory body has everything set out and is a master of its own cause but is he looking for an independent appeals system, that would be chaired by an independent person, let it be a person with a legal background or from another walk of life who is competent to be a chairperson of the appeals body. Is Mr. Coonan saying that there is no use in having a fight with the devil and having the court in hell? He wants an independent process. I would like Mr. Coonan to elaborate on that and set out who would chair the body. Mr. Coonan is seeking the specific right to go to appeal to the High Court to ensure that justice is done between all the parties in the case. I have no doubt it is an administrative decision and I would have seen such an impact on a person that he would have other rights. I am interested in the reason that he advocates so strongly for this line. Mr. Coonan is involved in much of the regulatory procedures as he represents the jockeys. I want to know how he would see this working out because I would then take it on board.