Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine states that the issue raised does not come within its remit. I will write formally to the Chairman of the committee, Deputy Deering. The issue is that a levy is payable to Horse Racing Ireland on the basis of the published fee that the owner of a mare pays for the services of a stallion. The actual fee charged can regularly be significantly less than the published fee. Should the levy be based on the published fee or the actual fee paid? It is similar to asking a person who is buying a house to pay stamp duty on the listed price as opposed to the actual price. If that is what the statutory instrument states, it makes no sense. There are vested interests in the industry that are quite satisfied with the regime, but others are very dissatisfied. It is strictly based on a statutory instrument introduced by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the matter is 100% within the remit of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Due to the fact that it was done by statutory instrument and the public is paying fees based on this, however, I, as Chairman, was contacted. I am sure other members of the committee have also been contacted. We will write to the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine. I had told the correspondent that we will do what we can at our committee. We will not ignore the very valid point he makes. If the statutory instrument does not stack up-----