Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is very easy with various bodies that have been technically private to raise the condition of recognition by the State of open membership and not having a self-perpetuating club. One could say that this is the way it is. Other elements of the Turf Club are being changed, including finance reporting and so on, as the world changes and it is not the same now as it was 150 years ago. That was much more paternalistic. In 2014, it is inappropriate that a club with a closed membership - it is by invitation only - is being given statutory functions when one line in a Bill could force it to make the membership application process more open.