Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That goes for both industries. As part of the pre-legislative scrutiny on horse racing we decided to look at the wider industry. We will be hearing from the local authorities who have to deal with straying and problem horses and from the ISPCA. Reputation is everything. The players and stakeholders in the industry can work and yet the image can be that of animals being neglected in poor conditions. Then all that effort in good public relations is diminished.

As such, the industry has a role in it which we wanted to emphasise so that we can contribute, hopefully, to the development of a model, whether through taxation or incentives to support smaller producers and owners. It is to ensure it is approached the same way. Ms Byrne said it herself when she referred to looking after addiction. That is very important.

I thank the witnesses for attending and for their forbearance.