Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank both of the witnesses for their very comprehensive presentation on the issues facing harness racing. We have met many times, and to cut to the nub of it, I am a firm believer in priming the pump. If we want any industry to start and to function, we have to invest in it during the initial stages and get it to the stage where it can continue on its own, hopefully generating a return. That must happen with this industry.

As well as meeting with our witnesses, I have looked into what happens in France and other countries. I am aware of how large this industry is, how much money it makes and how well it is doing. I agree that there seems to be real potential here. This sport has an added social value in that it takes these people off the roads. It reduces the anti-social element which many people associate with harness racing. That can be turned on its head, creating something very positive. Huge kudos would result from the Government investing money for that return. Over time that investment will come back in spades.

I give full credit to the witnesses for the work they have done. The five recommendations of the Indecon report are very clear. The witnesses appear to have gone a long way towards fulfilling the parts of those recommendations which fall to them, even if, considering the circumstances, they have not gone all the way. The remaining requirements concern the seed funding. State funding is vital. In 2016 Sport Ireland invested in a range of organisations. Basketball Ireland received €588,000 that year, while Cricket Ireland received €355,000. A total of €10 million was awarded to a range of very small, niche sports across the country. Harness racing is something which can generate a return and can be developed into an industry which would contribute to the economy. Many of these sports will not do that. That does not mean they are not worthy. They are clearly very worthy of every penny they get. However, this would allow the Government to invest in order to create something which will give something back. The work the witnesses have done is very worthwhile, and I think all the members of the committee that have heard this presentation, and those who have met with the witnesses separately, would agree.

All the people on the committee have heard the witnesses and met them outside of this meeting and they would feel we can, as a committee, recommend to the Minister and the Department that the €500,000 - rather than the €400,000 - that the witnesses say they need right now would be money well spent. It would be a proper investment. Further down the road there is talk of needing much larger sums and we would have to look at that when the time comes. It would be worth doing that if we can see this is about establishing something and specifically an industry that would create a return.

I have been quite critical in the past of many industries and groupings in the country getting large amounts of money every year who seem to be doing very well but continue to need State funding. It is important to state at the beginning that there must be a stage when the State must pull back from groups of this nature. We need to say that these guys have been propped up and kept going for so long and there comes a time when the State must pull back a little and say we cannot continue it forever. Those groups must find their way in developing an industry that would pay for itself.

Looking at international examples and as far as I can see, harness racing has the potential to become self-sustainable but it will not do so unless we invest in it initially. I fully endorse the comments of the witnesses and the plan put forward. I assume the five-year plan would be fully costed and it would set out a stage-by-stage process outlining how this would become sustainable. The committee should recommend to the Minister and the Department that the seed funding of €500,000 should be found in order to bring us to the next stage. We should have confidence to do that as a committee at this point. I wish the witnesses all the best and I hope the money will be spent very wisely. I hope not too many people will get a big salary or attend junkets. I am sure that would not happen.