Paul Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chairman. I welcome Ms. Headon and Mr. O'Dwyer and thank them for the comprehensive and frightening reports they have given us. I say that as someone who has a keen interest in and love for this industry. From a racing and horse breeding perspective, getting out this message is one of the biggest concerns because it is seen as a sport among the general public. When one mentions Brexit, economies, trade and borders, sporting activities are probably way down the list. From the point of view of the Irish economy, the figures Mr. O'Dwyer has given are startling. It is a major industry from an Irish export point of view.

We are a world leader in the industry and the consequences of Brexit from an Irish point of view probably are being well flagged by the witnesses and by our Government in negotiations. However, in terms of the European organisation Mr. O'Dwyer mentioned, how high up the list of priorities is this issue for Prime Minister Theresa May? This negotiation will involve Prime Minister May on one side of the table and 27 other member states on the other. We will be one of the 27. Where do the witnesses believe their concerns might figure in those negotiations? How can the members of this committee, by virtue of our report, highlight their case to that extent and try to get it higher in the list of priorities in negotiations?

As Mr. O'Dwyer rightly pointed out about the IRE suffix, where might that be after a potential hard Brexit? We have to look at every scenario. As I said earlier, the only thing that is predictable is the unpredictability of the situation. We hope for an easy Brexit, but we have to prepare for a hard one.

I will be in Downpatrick tomorrow evening. A situation might arise in two years time whereby if I am going to Downpatrick, not only will the horses have to have a passport or go through security but I will have to show my passport also. That is one possibility. How do the witnesses see us prioritising the horse in that situation? The horse will be pushed down the line, so to speak, if people have to show their passports. A horse crossing over to be covered or to race in either of the two tracks or vice versawill not be high on the list of many people's priorities. How do we get out that message?

Anybody involved with horses or in horse racing knows the story about the horse which befriended the goat for relaxation purposes or to overcome nervous traits, but getting that goat to travel with the horse to Cheltenham was unbelievably difficult.

Could we in a worse case scenario potentially see the same difficulty for the horse? Without putting Mr. O'Dwyer on the spot for specifics, could he give us a ballpark figure for the economic impact on the industry of a very hard Brexit?

In an ideal world we would like to see the tripartite agreement remain, so that horse racing and horse transport across borders would not change post Brexit irrespective of what kind of Brexit we had.

During an earlier discussion on cheese exports with Teagasc, the option to export to France would be the next port of call. The land bridge to France is through England. If trainers such as Willie Mullins or Aidan O'Brien decide because of the barriers post Brexit that they will bypass English racing and head to France, their best mode of transport is through England. Would there still be difficulties inadvertently, without even stopping over?

I would like to hear more from the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association on what might be potential solutions to the worst case problems that will arise. As I said at the outset, we are hoping for the best but we have to ask about worst case scenarios. None of us wants the worst case scenario but we do not have very much control at this point in time as to which outcome will come. I think that in Mrs Theresa May's list of priorities, this industry, which is very close to my heart will not be very high up on her list and I wonder how we can get it up that list.