Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the representatives for the insight they have given the committee. We have had our eyes wide opened by much of what they have said. I suggest they submit to the secretariat the five year plan and also the observations on the Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015 for the members as it is coming before the House this evening and will be discussed tomorrow and probably next week again on Second Stage. Committee Stage it is scheduled to come before this committee in December. All the proceedings today are on the public record so people will have an opportunity to observe them which, no doubt, they will. The representatives have heard the flavour of the response - it is not patronising or anything else. People have given their genuine objective observations of what they see. It would seem fair that at least some financial token of acknowledgment would have been forthcoming. I think the Minister did undertake to engage positively with them. As a committee we have put it on our agenda to discuss privately, next week, how we can be supportive, if that is the will of the members of the committee. We will keep the representatives informed of what we do in that vein.

Again I thank the representatives for appearing before the committee and giving us that insight into the sector. Thinking about it, I hitched around a good part of Australia a long time ago. The only problem I had was that none of those fellows with the horse floats and a sulky on the back would stop to give one a lift. Other than that I did go to the races in Melbourne when I was over there, it was like going to the dogs. It was a completely different experience but very exciting.