Ms Geraldine Larkin:

I thank the Chairman and members of the committee. At our presentation 12 months ago, I stated that if this industry was to survive and prosper, it would require tough decisions, ongoing assessment of the business model, the development of new income streams and an openness to new approaches right across the sector. During the past year, the Irish Greyhound Board has not shied away from any hard decision, including the decision to sell the Harold's Cross site, the calibration of racing and the development and introduction of key performance indicators, KPIs, for all tracks. Commercially, the Irish Greyhound Board has introduced a new digital and marketing strategy. As already mentioned, we have taken over our food and beverage operations and entered into commercially important drinks pouring rights arrangements. We have established appropriate technology platforms to generate new income streams and have signed contracts with some of the most iconic global wagering names. Increased marketing spend has enabled investment in marketing to the tour operator and incentive markets. We have increased our presence at a number of United Kingdom and European trade fairs and all this activity should yield dividends, based on the booking cycles of these companies, from next year onwards.

Despite these measures, the results for 2014 reinforce the fact that improvement following years of underinvestment in the commercial infrastructure of the Irish Greyhound Board will take time to deliver. All the initiatives are important and overdue and will position the Irish Greyhound Board to maximise opportunities arising from improvements in the macroeconomy. Critical actions must be taken to regenerate the industry, key among these being the need to increase of the number of owners, breeders and trainers involved in the sport. This group must be increased and renewed as otherwise, the industry will continue to contract. We are working with all stakeholders to develop ways to incentivise ownership and in that respect, the additional allocation in the budget is most welcome. We have concluded a full consultation with industry stakeholders and the challenge is to ensure the maximum return on investment. The additional €1.2 million announced in the budget for the Horse and Greyhound Fund is going to prize money and additional industry supports at grassroots level.

At last year’s meeting, the issue of regulation and integrity was brought up. Regulation always has been a fraught area for all sports governing bodies and for greyhound industries worldwide. It must be stated that only a very small number of those involved in the greyhound industry are non-compliant. This being the case, the board has championed and introduced the use of new statutory instruments to strengthen our regulatory control. Those who breach the regulations now know they will be faced with publication of adverse findings from test results of their greyhounds, which, in turn, will be banned from racing. This is a major step forward and is but one to be followed. The Irish Greyhound Board supports mandatory penalties for a range of offences but this will require amending primary legislation. I realise I am not saying anything new in stating the past few years have been very difficult for all those involved in the greyhound industry. There is a serious attempt to put the industry on a sound footing within the resources available to us and to create an industry model that is fit for purpose and is sustainable.