Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am sorry. There are so many bodies that I get mixed up. There was one point on which it took me three or four goes to get an answer out of the Sports Horse Alliance last Tuesday evening. It was about the number of Irish-bred horses jumping internationally as a percentage of the horses competing for Ireland. The figure we were given was that only 10% of the horses that are jumping competitively for Ireland are Irish-bred. That is a warning signal as regards the route this business is heading. Going back to the Aga Khan teams of the 1970s, the vast majority of those horses were Irish-bred. It is a long time since a representative of the Army Equestrian Centre jumped internationally for Ireland. The Sports Horse Alliance's presentation contained requests for funding and development for their industry. That 10% figure shows there is something wrong in our horse sport industry. It does not have the ability to create finance. Betting is not widespread in their industry. Eventing and showjumping do not attract betting to the same degree as other horse sports. I do not say everything they said here was correct but we have to give serious consideration to where this industry is going with such a low number of Irish-bred horses jumping competitively for the country. They made requests for funding and most of them were looking for better infrastructure and better prize money for shows. I suggest to the Minister that we need to sit down and analyse this. Before it is too late, we need again to start breeding horses here that can jump internationally. We were renowned for the horses we produced in the past but we have slipped down the scale as regards producing eventers and showjumpers.

The Minister mentioned that the greyhound Bill is progressing, which is welcome. I have a suggestion, which I have raised here on a number of occasions, that there should be one laboratory for Horse Racing Ireland and the greyhound industry. I would like that to be progressed. The integrity of the greyhound industry has had many sticks and stones thrown at it. Whether they are all merited is a different issue. It is common sense to have one laboratory. I am told there are different requirements as regards testing dogs and horses but surely having the laboratory under one roof would be the most economical way to go. We need a laboratory that can look after samples so that they can stand up to any scrutiny in any court. That is not watertight at the moment. If someone is found guilty in respect of a prohibited substance, the full rigours of the new Act have to be enforceable. A properly funded laboratory covering the two industries would be a welcome step forward.

The increase in the betting tax is provided for in the Finance Bill. I have serious worries about on-track bookmakers. I fear they are going to disappear from the industry. They are an integral part of the social scene at horse and greyhound race meetings. They bring a unique atmosphere to the events. Their numbers have dropped significantly in the past couple of years. The turnover at mid-week race meetings is low. If on-course bookmakers were given an exemption from this increase in tax, it would be an incentive for some of those sole traders to stay in business. They are competing with the online business and a significant volume of betting is done online. I am not talking about making that exempt. The increase in tax is the way to go there and is the way to fund the industry going forward. However, there needs to be some recognition of on-track bookmakers and we should try to keep them in business. There is only 30% to 35% of the number ten years ago in the industry now. If we do not do something to arrest that decline, we will lose an integral part of what makes a day at the races or a night at the dogs enjoyable.

Fianna Fáil supports the allocation of Exchequer funding to these industries and will support the Bill in the Chamber. I would be grateful if the Minister could respond to those questions and observations.