Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank both witnesses for their presentations. I must say at the outset that the behaviour of Horse Racing Ireland has been disgraceful. I think it is snobbery. I have read the communications from Horse Racing Ireland to the harness racing group. People are genuinely trying to bring support to an economy in various areas. It is an absolute disgrace.

Two harness racing meetings were conducted in Dundalk in 2008, of which Horse Racing Ireland was probably aware at that stage, and were carried out according to the criteria that were to be adhered to. From 2008 until September of this year, however, they have been denied access. Horse Racing Ireland has told Dundalk track not to allow them to go ahead. What authority has Horse Racing Ireland over a privately owned track to tell the owners what they should or should not do?

I am looking at other correspondence here from 3 December 2009. It came from Horse Racing Ireland and states that Horse Racing Ireland has not made it a condition of race course authorisation of Dundalk or any race course that harness racing will not be staged, because Dundalk stadium has voluntarily accepted HRI's decision that harness racing should not be staged. However, it states, if Dundalk were not willing to accept HRI's position by agreement, then the HRI board would consider making it a condition of its ongoing authorisation as permitted under the legislation. Reading on further, another communication states that there were a number of factors in reaching this decision, including reputational concerns, commercial concerns, welfare and disease control concerns, potential impact on the race surface, and loss of potential future fixture flexibility. I cannot understand reputational and commercial concerns. Is that because it was going to be in competition with Horse Racing Ireland? Was harness racing being denied access because Horse Racing Ireland desired to maintain a competitive advantage?

Then we come to the 27th of this year.

On 24 May, Horse Racing Ireland made a presentation to the executive on these events and again said that they should not be allowed. Yet, they took place again two or three months later under strict controls. I assume the controls were as tight as those which operated in 2009 for the two events that took place then. If HRI was doing its job correctly, there would have been strict veterinary controls and so forth.

The one positive element of Mr. Kavanagh's presentation is the fact a report is being prepared and if it finds that the strictest controls were adhered to, that will enable these events to go ahead in the future. Horse Racing Ireland was allocated €54 million this year and has received very generous levels of funding from the Government at a time when many people in the country were suffering greatly. This committee was requested to approve such funding by the Minister but I will never again support such funding levels for the organisation if this kind of snobbery is going to continue. We must have equality of treatment and fairness. The only legitimate arguments that could be made centre on welfare and disease control. I hope the report, when published, will lead to equal treatment for all. That is what is required. These events can be staged in places like Dundalk and can generate significant income in local economies, which must be welcomed and supported.