Mr. Michael Hickey:

I thank the Chairman for the opportunity to be here. I represent the National Hunt Committee and I also represent a lot of people in the point-to-point community. Amateurs around the country are the rural fabric of point-to-pointing. There is a huge voluntary aspect to it around the country but they are not here themselves today and have not been consulted on this. I will therefore try to represent them to the best of my ability.

In addition to its role in national hunt racing, the Irish National Hunt steeplechase committee - which, as Mr. Egan said, was established in 1869 - is also responsible for the administration and regulation of point-to-point racing. In order to participate in point-to-points all owners, trainers and horses must register with the National Hunt Committee. The National Hunt Committee allocates point-to-point fixtures and licenses entry takers for point-to-points. We first developed a set of rules and regulations for the sport in or around 1900.

Point-to-point racing is very much an amateur sport and is predominantly run on a voluntary basis by local hunts and committees around the country. These committees transform green fields to racing circuits and return them to green fields again following a point-to-point meeting. They make the majority of the arrangements necessary to organise each meeting and they provide in the region of 60 to 80 staff on a voluntary basis on any one race day. The hunts are supported in their role by the National Hunt Committee to do this.

Point-to-point racing has flourished over the last ten years and creates a major outlet for the sale of Irish horses. Many UK owners and trainers visit Irish point-to-points throughout the season and competition to purchase Irish pointers is intense. It is estimated that the sale of pointer-to-pointers generates about €15 million annually. This provides a welcome boost to rural economies and farm incomes. As some members of the committee will know, being familiar with point-to-point races, many farmers have a horse stuck in the back lane for point-to-pointing.

The State has never had any involvement in point-to-point racing and it is not mentioned in any of the racing Acts. The terms of reference for Indecon make no reference to point-to-points. Indecon made no recommendations in relation to point-to-points. Subsequently, HRI sought to introduce the topic of point-to-points and proposed that all point-to-point registrations and administrations would be switched from the National Hunt Committee to HRI. HRI went further and suggested that any surpluses arising from point-to-point racing would be put under the control of HRI for it to decide on their application. No reasons were advanced as to how this would help point-to-point racing.

There is a separate issue on streamlining costs and the National Hunt Committee is confident that any cost savings identified will be met from improvements in processes, some of which have already been implemented. These will include the introduction of online registration of hunter certificates and an online application process for handler licences. These are being implemented and I myself registered as a handler last week online.

It is the first time we have had that facility. While the changes to point to points proposed in the draft general scheme are a little less extensive than those originally proposed by HRI, the proposal in head 5 that the registration of hunter certificates, the registration of participants in point to point steeplechases and the processing of all charges in relation to point to point registrations should be administered by HRI is without basis.

The proposals in head 11 that fees should be made payable to HRI and that charges for registrations can only be set subject to consultation with HRI are also without basis for an amateur sport. There is no need to nationalise point to points. The proposal to include point to points in the draft general scheme marks the first time that point to point racing has been included in legislation and, to our knowledge, would mark the first time that participants in any amateur sport are being required to register with a State body. Participants in the GAA, rugby and soccer are not required to register with a State organisation even though those sports benefit from considerable State funding.

In conclusion, we ask members to reflect on the following: Point to point racing is an amateur sport run predominately on a voluntary basis; no other amateur sport that we are aware of is subject to legislation; it is not mentioned in any of the racing Acts, and Indecon made no recommendations in relation to point to points. Legislative changes should be informed by careful study and consultation with interested parties and stakeholders. There has been no consultation with the parties and stakeholders involved in point to point racing and there is no basis for any reference to point to points in the Horse Racing Ireland (amendment) Bill 2014. We go further and contend that the proposals in heads 5 and 11 of the current draft general scheme amount to an unconstitutional attack on the property rights of the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee.

I thank the committee very much and will endeavour to answer any questions that may arise from my submission.