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

I thank the Minister of State for his detailed presentation, of which I must be complimentary, inasmuch as at last somebody has taken the bull by the horns, for want of a better expression, to try to sort out this ongoing issue, that is, the dissension, disagreement and so forth, as well as the overall message going out and the damage it has done to the industry. It is good to hear the Minister of State is taking this on board and is trying to deal with it. I recognise completely the importance of the employment side of this sector, both in respect of Bord na gCon and the number of people involved in the industry. Given the area from which I come, I am conscious of what this means to the local economy and how it is of benefit to it. There is a large number of greyhound owners and greyhound breeders in the area from which I come and the industry is of fantastic benefit to the economy and to the smaller, weaker sector within the farming community, whose members make their living out of it.

The Minister of State also referred in his presentation to the effects from 2008 onwards, some of which probably are due to the recession and others to the bad publicity associated with the industry. This manifested itself through a small number of people who have given the industry a not-great name overall. Senator Ó Domhnaill made it obvious the way to sort out this issue is through an inclusive process. An inclusive approach will include the Minister of State, obviously, as well as all the sectors within the industry, working together in a collective and transparent way to try to resolve it.

When that happens it will generate confidence from the wider public as well as from people in the industry. As the Minister of State said, the industry has huge potential if it is marketed properly, has the confidence of the public and is utilised properly. There are 17 licensed racetracks around the country which are widely spread geographically. Greyhound racing is linked to the rural communities and is part of the social activity where those tracks are located.

The Minister of State said there is a plan for asset disposals. This is one of the key recommendations in the report and it is for asset disposals. Has the Minister of State looked at potential assets to be disposed of? If so, is he doing it exclusively from a Government point of view or in consultation with the people in the industry?

In regard to the provisions regarding prize money I suggest, given the recession and the decline in prize money, most operators are working at a loss. It is a tribute to the people involved in the sector who continue to work at a loss because of their love of the industry and something must be done to help them. Money put into an industry that has potential, such as the greyhound industry, is money well spent from a Government point of view. It helps the local economy, peripheral areas that are suffering as a consequence, as well as the social side of it and it is a cheap night out for families.

The Minister of State mentioned that the board has completed the sale of its former headquarters in Limerick, as recommended in the Indecon report. Does that include the new racetrack there or is it separate?