Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his presentation. I am very conscious of the number of people employed both in the horse sector and the greyhound sector, and the value this has for rural Ireland, as well as the general importance of the greyhound sector to rural Ireland. Something like 24,000 people are employed and the benefit to the economy is difficult to argue against. In the current climate, however, it is very difficult, if one does not know the background in regard to rural Ireland, to try to justify it, but we have to justify it to our constituents, particularly when parts of the social supports are being cut every year.

I am very disappointed an opportunity was missed to deal with this through the betting tax. The Minister said the take on 1% will be €25 million, which, as Deputy Ó Cuív said, means the take on 3% would be €75 million. Given we are putting in €68 million, there would be €7 million of a surplus, and the €68 million could go some way to meeting the cuts to social services, thereby relieving the hardship and pressure that exists. However, this was not done in the budget so, effectively, we are left with a situation where we must decide whether to agree to this motion.

I will agree to it but I want to make my reservations known. I am very disappointed that more emphasis was not given to the revenue that could come in from betting tax, which would have covered this completely and allowed for that extra funding. The reason I am supporting this is that I am very conscious of the value it has for rural Ireland, which has taken an awful hit in the last number of years. The social consequences of what is happening is shown in the economic disparities in many parts of rural Ireland. It is the contribution of people involved in the greyhound sector in particular, who are in practically every single parish all along the west and south coasts, that is helping to maintain the social fabric as well the local economy, and effectively helping people to tread water at this time. I am making my reservations and my disappointment known, although I am not going to oppose it.