Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 15 December 2015

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Harness Racing Industry: Horse Racing Ireland and Horse Sport Ireland

2:00 pm

Photo of Willie PenroseWillie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the representatives from Horse Racing Ireland and Horse Sport Ireland for coming here today. I accept some of the points made in the presentations by both organisations. I agree that veterinary issues, animal welfare and disease control are critical to the well-being of our very valuable thoroughbred stock. I understand that where there is fixture displacement or any interference with planned events, the race tracks should not be made available. However, during quiet periods or down time, surely a track like Dundalk, if available, should be allowed to host harness racing events. Those involved in this sector have high standards too. They are not fly-by-nights. The Irish Harness Racing Association is a genuine organisation. It is not receiving tax-free stallion fees or anything like that. Its members are ordinary people. I like to speak for the ordinary people and that is why I have made such efforts to protect our smaller race tracks all over the country. Somewhat like the set-up with regard to the accountancy firms, there are the big four tracks and then "the rest" but I will make sure that the rest are up there with the best. They must be treated equally and like Deputy Martin Ferris, I make no apologies for fighting their corner.

I understand the importance of biological hazards and would respect what Professor Wall has to say on these matters as he is an expert on biosecurity. That said, how could such concerns arise, given the levels of disinfection and the efforts of all organisations to protect animals, when these events are not clashing? I understand the issue surrounding animals mixing with one another and am fully aware that the thoroughbred is a different animal. Mr. Kavanagh's argument was well made in that regard but if there is no crossover, then where is the problem? If we are only talking about one or two harness racing events per year, then the tracks are available for more than 50 weeks of the year for so-called ordinary racing. Mr. Kavanagh's description of ordinary racing was accurate in terms of the agility, speed and breeding of the racehorses as well as one's ability to check their pedigree in the stud book and so forth.

The harness racing industry is trying to secure its own venues. The use of the HRI tracks is only an interim solution, in some ways. We all accept that the HRI tracks cannot be a permanent home. As I understand it, it will not involve every track in the country. It cannot involve every track because some are entirely unsuitable for harness racing and the Irish Harness Racing Association is acutely aware of that. We must all live in the real world and accept there are some obstacles that cannot be overcome. However, favourable consideration should be given to those tracks where it is possible to stage harness racing events, like the one in Dundalk. We await the report which will not be available for another ten weeks. Mr. Kavanagh has indicated there will be two elements to that report. He wants both elements to be completed before it is published, which I understand and accept. The report will examine all aspects of controls and standards, which is very important. It will also pay attention to the biosecurity measures in operation in all of the yards, which is fair enough. Animal health is extremely important and we do not want to set off a train of events which could undermine the very important, multi-million euro industry that exists in this country.

If harness racing can be facilitated, is HRI predisposed to doing so? Is there goodwill in the organisation in terms of allowing more events to take place? We are not talking about a huge number of such events, or at least that is my understanding of what the Irish Harness Racing Association is seeking. I accept we could not have a harness racing event every month in Dundalk, for example. Is it possible that one or two more events could take place while the aforementioned association works towards opening its own venues? As my colleagues have pointed out, this committee was given information on the success of the harness racing industry in France. It makes an enormous contribution in that country. That said, I am not suggesting that we could reach those heights in Ireland any time soon, given that the industry in France has been around for far longer than the Irish one. Can the witnesses see any possibility of providing interim support? If the Irish Harness Racing Association is not active and is not holding events reasonably regularly, the sport will not take off or gain ground. In order to gain ground, it needs interim support prior to setting up its own facilities. Then it will be away in a hack, as we say here. It is a sport which attracts an audience and generates economic activity but it will need some funding initially. The sum in question has been defined by the association. It is not seeking an unlimited pool of money - indeed, there is no such pool available, regardless of who is in Government. The next Government will not be in a position to hand over huge sums of money to support horse racing because there are numerous far more pressing demands on the Exchequer in areas like health and housing.

This committee is trying to come up with a fair solution. We hope to see the harness racing industry eventually strike out on its own but it will need the support of the more established organisations in the field. Horse Sport Ireland, as Professor Wall said, fitted it in and gave it a home. Is that pro tempore or does he see the Irish Harness Racing Association eventually becoming affiliated to his organisation? I am sure that Professor Wall will say that his organisation is okay with that but that it has a lot of mouths to feed and as long as it has the funds, it will feed all of the mouths. The sum of €3.6 million for Horse Sport Ireland was referred to earlier and the Irish Harness Racing Association is looking for approximately €300,000. No doubt Professor Wall will say that if the Government provides €4 million then everything will be fine.

We mentioned €300,000. It appears Horse Racing Ireland believes it will require €4 million to get us into that space. Is that correct?

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