Mary Ann O'Brien (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the board of Horse Sport Ireland for their excellent presentation. Based on what has been achieved by Horse Sport Ireland I too, like Deputy Ó Cuív, would invest in it. Horse Sport Ireland has a website with a vast reach, and has brought its affiliates under one roof. As a potential investor in the company I would love to hear Horse Sport Ireland outline its vision for the future and what it could do with funding.

What worries me is the stud book and I would like to hear more about it. I attended some of the excellent evening events hosted by Horse Sport Ireland around the country. I have spoken a few times to the chairman who is very learned on the subject of the stud book. How does one get the rankings up to the level of the horses in the eventing world?

I know that Rory McIlroy has to live in America, but why does Bertram Allen have to live in Germany? Why is Cian O'Connor the only rider who can live in Ireland? Do our young riders have to live in Europe in order to compete and be in the centre of things?

Deputy Ó Cuív asked how we become the centre of excellence for breeding horses. Do we need something similar to the National Stud to buy in the best stallions? How can we get back to being the go-to island in the world for excellence whether for show jumpers or the eventers?

Deputy Ó Cuív mentioned the Connemara ponies which are unique to us. The French invested in good horses for their riders at the junior European showjumping Championship. I made representations to this committee last year for funding for that championship but the allocation was so small it was mortifying. Yet the whole of Europe was coming to participate in it. We did very well, but the French showed us up, as they had been investing copious amounts of money for years in their horses, many of which were Irish-bred Connemara ponies. I wonder if Horse Sport Ireland has the vision and the plans to do something similar. It is a long-term project and not a quick win.