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

This was never raised with me by the racing regulatory body. It is perfectly reasonable to have licensing for trainers, jockeys, valets and so on. However, one cannot licence them unless they pay. The collection mechanism for that is an entirely separate issue. None of the current income streams of the Turf Club is changing, it is just the collection mechanism and the efficiency around it that is changing. The money will end up where it would today. I understand why someone would make the point but it does not make a great deal of sense, to be honest.