Dr. Peadar Ó Scanaill:

Peadar Ó Scanaill is my name. I am a veterinarian in north County Dublin. In my locality, trotting has been taking place in Portmarnock since the 1960s and 1970s. My father was a veterinarian agus bhí sé ag obair ann chomh maith. He always used to do the work there. They never had money. This sport must be supported. The sport tries to do things correctly. It differentiates itself completely from what takes place on the road. What happens on the road must stop. It is a welfare issue and a problem. It is a shame to our nation that people can see some of the things that occur. Trotting is the opposite end of the spectrum, with no funding whatsoever. It is all from the pockets of the people involved.

In Dundalk we had a fantastic day out on the veterinary side. The Turf Club came in attendance. We were quite confident from the veterinary point of view. I had other professionals with me. There were four veterinary assistants as well as my two veterinary practitioners. The Turf Club came along and we were quite delighted to see it come with us. Obviously our work mainly covers the thoroughbred world, and then we do sidelines such as what the men with me are doing as well as eventing and so forth. We mimicked exactly what takes place on the racecourses in Fairyhouse, Leopardstown and so forth.

These people are as high, if not higher, in their standard of welfare and care of their horses. They are welcoming to any suggestions we in the veterinary profession make to them to ensure that they do the job properly. It is difficult for us as veterinary practitioners to continue giving this service because, in fairness, it is out of their pocket and they cannot possibly pay us current or correct rates. That is the reason I am here this afternoon. As independently as possible, although I have been working with them nearly all of my life, I wish to state that they are doing their best to promote the sport in the way it should be conducted. It might also be a help, as was suggested by Arthur, towards a solution to another problem they tend to get tagged with even though it has nothing to do with them.