Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Daly. I recognise, as I did in my opening comments, the work of the committee in putting together the report which it submitted to me in the past week or two. It was important work to which the committee gave significant time and attention. It is an example of how this committee has been effective and can operate effectively by engaging with stakeholders and doing reports on particular issues. Certainly the committee was responsive in addressing this issue. In regard to the 11 recommendations made and the arguments put forward on how to proceed and respond, my officials and I are considering them in detail.

On the question of horse and pony racing, this matter comes under the remit of Horse Racing Ireland, HRI, which is funded, as is the greyhound racing board, Rásaíocht Con Éireann, through the horse and greyhound fund. The HRI and the IHRB met with representatives of Midlands Horse and Pony Racing earlier in the year. Following on from those meetings, the HRI agreed to provide funding to assist with the costs associated with running pony racing meetings in 2021. The funding will go directly towards assistance with essential insurance cover. It was provided on a one-off basis. The HRI invests each year in supporting young jockeys through the EQUUIP programme. A number of fully funded courses are available to young jockeys at the race training centre in Kildare. As Minister, I provide the funding to HRI and it engages with its representative members and various aspects of the industry to spend that funding as prudently and as effectively as possible. The horse and pony racing sector, in particular, is important. It has been engaging and I look forward to that continuing. I take on board the points made by Senator Daly. It is something Senator Murphy has raised with me on a number of occasions outside of this committee.

In regard to the final point the Senator made on the work of the special investigations unit, and the particular investigation led by the Department on 9 November, given the fact that it is an active investigation, I am constrained from commenting on it in any detail as it is ongoing. Suffice to say, it is normal practice whenever there is a special investigations unit investigation, it would engage with other appropriate authorities, including the IHRB and the gardaí to support it in that. Of course there is a role, as the Senator pointed out, for the IHRB. It has the capacity now to carry out monitoring and testing in yards directly. That is open to it at any stage, to do as part of its normal business. This particular one was a special investigations unit led operation, which then engaged the IHRB and the gardaí, as would be appropriate and standard practice.