Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

That was a very comprehensive presentation, as we are used to receiving from Mr. Cooper. He spoke about the parimutuel being the most successful. Will he put a figure on what percentage the IHRA received from that international betting pool?

Mr. Cooper outlined very clearly the standards the organisation will have to adhere to if it is to have a successful industry that will attract betting throughout Europe. The IHRA has done things very well. For a body starting up and in embryo stage, it has done things exceptionally well.

Mr. Cooper spoke about the seed funding required by the IHRA. He veered away from the major question, which is exactly how much money we are speaking about. Mr. Cooper spoke about prize money. How much prize money per race was given by the IHRA last year? Mr. Cooper spoke about percentage and spoke about prize money increasing by 38%, but 38% of a small figure could still be a small amount of money. How much prize money will the IHRA require if this is to be put on a proper footing? We have a formula between Horse Racing Ireland and the Greyhound Board, which is 4:1 with regard to the distribution of Exchequer funding. Horse Racing Ireland is of the strong view that an increase in betting tax could make this self-financing. The IHRA probably has the same view, that if it could get its business up and running it could make it self-financing.

Will Mr. Cooper put flesh on what he is saying? Committee members have met the witnesses on a number of occasions at this stage, and the IHRA has convinced us it is capable of doing the job. It has convinced me that it is capable of doing it well. The IHRA is at a crossroads now, as the €50,000 that was provided is not enough to get it to the next stage. How much money is required to get race meetings up and running properly and have tote pools which, in turn, will be self-financing and will allow harness racing to progress to the next stage with regard to providing its own circuit and race track? Accommodation and the housing of ponies and horses is also essential for the business. Mr. Cooper balked from stating the exact amount of money required to get the IHRA to the next stage. It has done tremendously well and has convinced us it is doing everything by the book and correctly. I am confident that everything is covered with regard to regulations and testing horses, and it is essential that this is done. I would like more flesh on exactly what is needed to get the IHRA to the next stage. It would be a shame, given all the work the IHRA has done, if it is left floundering. If another 12 months goes by, it will be 12 months wasted.