Mr. Arthur Cooper:

I thank the committee for allowing the Irish Harness Racing Association to appear before it. We have introduced some packages which give a profile of the association and include photographs of harness racing in Ireland from years gone by. I will come to those photographs a little later. Our aim this afternoon is to introduce ourselves, discuss the sport and the size of the industry, how we can assist in terms of the social issues and what significant economic benefits we can bring to Ireland.

Trotting is a globally recognised sport. It is to be found across 31 countries and is an industry valued at €13 billion. It is a horserace run at recognised racetracks and has a horse pulling a sulky with a driver. France is the largest country for trotting and other sizable trotting territories include North America, Sweden and Australia. France and Australia, in particular, look at the sport from a community-rural aspect.

Trotting is the largest horse racing sport in mainland Europe and is bigger than thoroughbred racing. The Irish Harness Racing Association, IHRA, is the globally recognised governing body representing Ireland and an active member of the world federation of trotting. The European Trotting Union, UET, is a collective group, with 20 member states. Ireland has observer status, and this past summer underwent an audit to be elevated to full member status. We will learn of the UET's decision later this year. For an organisation such as ours, the equivalent is a country joining the EU.

The IHRA does not deal with road or sulky racing. Our race meetings are conducted at recognised racetracks and officiated under the full governance of international trotting rules and standards. We believe we might be able to assist with the road racing social issues.

The sport in France has developed, with more than 230 individual tracks spread throughout the country, mostly in rural towns. In the information provided to committee members I have included a map of France which indicates the large number of tracks throughout the country. For the French, this is a sport based in the rural community and, unlike thoroughbred racing, it is the district farmer and his wife who has a horse or two to race. There are big owners and stables, which is natural, but it is important to remember the smaller participants, primarily from rural communities, are in many ways the important grassroots level for the French trotting community. The industry in France is worth more than €6 billion in direct economic benefits and generates more than 60,000 direct jobs. Thoroughbred racing and trotting can and do stand side by side to help to grow an economy.

Thoroughbred racing and trotting share racecourse facilities in most countries and they hold meetings on the same day and, frequently, on the same race card. This is a global phenomenon. The use of Irish thoroughbred racetracks is being prevented at present by Horse Racing Ireland on the basis of welfare, track and competition reasons. All of these are hollow and flawed arguments. At the end of September, the IHRA was able to conduct a meeting on the all-weather surface at the thoroughbred track in Dundalk. It was highly successful and only added to the standing of Irish trotting, with international guests in attendance. We had a meeting with Horse Racing Ireland this morning at which we received a 100% clean bill of health with regard to welfare issues and the track. A number of people from Horse Racing Ireland were present at the meeting in Dundalk, and those in attendance this morning stated it was very professionally run. The Turf Club, as an independent group, examined all of our horses and they all passed. There was not one issue with regard to welfare, which is one of the main arguments Horse Racing Ireland has put forward. A report has been prepared, which we went through this morning. Unfortunately, for a number of internal administrative reasons Horse Racing Ireland has not yet forwarded the report to the Department or the Minister, Deputy Coveney, but it will happen very shortly. It is a very positive report. Horse Racing Ireland and the IHRA will conduct stable inspections of our trotting horses and trainers.

This morning, we also discussed with Horse Racing Ireland the importance of ongoing access to Dundalk. Both parties agreed, and it was stressed, that Dundalk can potentially be an interim location for us to hold meetings and be able to export our product, which I will discuss in a moment. Horse Racing Ireland insisted that from a longer-term perspective Dundalk is not the home for harness racing. We will seek a track, or a number of tracks, throughout the country. Dundalk was highly successful and can act as a stopgap solution from an international export perspective, but on a long-term basis we need to find an alternative solution.

The IHRA has entered a mentoring programme with the French governing body, LeTROT, whereby horses will be purchased at a subsidised rate, prize money contributions amounting to €150,000 or more are paid directly to us and educational opportunities are offered.

Importantly, there is scope for Irish trotting to be exported to France where commissions payable will amount to a minimum of €50,000 per race meeting we would export to France. Thoroughbreds do not receive anywhere near that amount of export money from markets outside the United Kingdom, and it is not just to France. There are other potential export markets. We are in discussion with countries around the world for Irish harness racing to be exported, and we will receive commission.

Additionally, apart from this opportunity, we have an Irish horse which is in Australia for the richest series in the southern hemisphere, the Inter Dominion. In 1993, the Irish thoroughbred, Vintage Crop, was the first international horse to travel to Australia to participate in and win the Melbourne Cup. Another Irish horse, Meadowbranch DJ, now has the opportunity to achieve similar success. There is a lot of interest in him, being the first international harness horse to race in the series. The three heats and final will take place later this month and also into December.

Currently, both France and Australia are making financial contributions towards the development of harness racing here in Ireland. As noted, the Irish Harness Racing Industry, IHRA, has no association whatsoever with road racing. Europe does not have this problem. One reason for that is the strength of the European trotting industry. The sport is offered in many rural towns and is presented under the governance of trotting rules, with prize money and betting opportunities.

Members will notice that we have provided a number of photographs within the pack to illustrate the sport in Ireland in the past. One of the photographs shows trotting being held in Jones Road, on the site of what is now Croke Park. That was in 1900. Another photograph shows trotting being held at the RDS show in 1922, and another is of trotting being held in Raheny, with huge crowds, in 1945. Trotting is not unfamiliar here in Ireland.

By supporting the IHRA, road races can be integrated, as they have been in Europe over many years. They have access to races at tracks, with prize money under the rules of racing governance, and with betting opportunities. In France, for example, the last race of each meeting at Bordeaux today is dedicated to amateur drivers. That is where the local community can race against themselves, and they receive full pari mutuel urbain, PMU, coverage in France.

On Tuesday, 14 October, the budget was handed down. The thoroughbred and greyhound racing industry saw a combined increase of 9%, or €6 million. In addition, the Traveller community received an increase of 27% to €2.7 million for advancing horse projects for urban and Traveller horse owners. The IHRA submitted and requested a total of just €375,000 for development and veterinary issues. The IHRA was allocated zero.

As noted, other countries assisting financially include France and Australia. The IHRA is on the verge of becoming a key component within the global trotting industry. This will occur through developing export markets for Ireland and creating other industries and jobs in Ireland, including in breeding, where we now have our own stud book. Breeding of horses in Ireland is an integral part of the economy, and that is where we have a terrific opportunity to develop Trotteur Francais horses for export to Europe, and into Sweden and France in particular.

There are also the opportunities from an international tote trotting hub. From a tote perspective, revenue is key to any form of gambling industry. That is an area we are trying to develop. We are in discussions, and we have a meeting with the Department of Justice and Equality tomorrow regarding the Gambling Control Bill currently being drafted yet not one euro has been found to assist us in the development of this industry for Ireland where we can rapidly produce real, direct economic benefits.

The IHRA is seeking funding for ongoing business development, veterinary needs and longer term funding to develop dedicated tracks for trotting.

We are hopeful that our positive and self-generated progress will be noted and acted upon.

I thank the committee for its time. Our chairman, Mr. Mark Flanagan, treasurer, Mr. James O'Sullivan, and our veterinary consultant, Mr. Peadar Ó Scanaill, can add their remarks if they wish.