Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

HRI does not have the power to refuse the use of tracks it does not own, but it may well have been asked for advice. We should have a more honest discussion about this. Many people are trying to get their heads around what harness racing as an industry might look like in Ireland. We are at the early stages of this conversation. We need to reassure people rather than trying to bully them into something. The greyhound industry has nothing at all to do with this, although one could argue harness racing could be held at greyhound tracks. I do not know. I do not know the technicalities of the size of the track. This is a sector and industry we need to move from streets and beaches into proper, regulated and managed facilities. We need to do this over time. I do not think we should delay what is a separate ask, namely, the horse and greyhound fund, before we do so. I hope we do not have a vote today, but if we must have a vote on this, I must give the industry the certainty.