Mr. Mark Flanagan:

We have views on the Traveller issue and why there is road racing in Ireland. Mr. Cooper said in his presentation that throughout Europe there was a proper, functioning trotting industry that was well supported and integrated into the community. We do not have that here. While we race horses and have the tracks in Portmarnock, we do not have the support of the Government or funds. There is no road racing in France, Sweden or elsewhere. That is because these countries have properly structured harness racing that is supported by the government and well integrated. That is missing in this country.

There are members of the Traveller community involved in harness racing. We do not prevent anybody from participating. As long as one fits the criteria to apply for a licence, one can own a horse. Billy Roche is our leading driver this year. He will represent Ireland in Vincennes in France in the first week of December in an international race. He will wear the Irish colours in Vincennes which has one of the biggest race tracks in the world. It holds 60,000 people and is spectacular. Billy Roche is a settled Traveller and a tangible success story. There was a background where he might have been on the road five or six years ago, but he integrated and saw the potential of the sport. He enjoys his racing.

He is now the leading driver in Portmarnock and has represented this country in Vincennes in France. We also have eight drivers competing at Argentan in France at the end of November, where they will race against eight of the top drivers in France. We are competing on an international level and Dr. Ó Scanaill will confirm that the association is doing everything with regard to veterinary controls and testing procedures. We are doing all of this but we are not funded. We tested at every single race in Dundalk for 1,000 different products and all the tests were negative. We have a sport trying to do its best on a professional level but not getting the support or the funding.