Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is a fundamental point. I am not trying to cross-examine Mr. Corrigan but it is important to get a feel for exactly where we are at with the relationship between the organisations and Horse Sport Ireland. We need to get that relationship back on a working footing. That is probably bad English but it is what we need to do. The industry is not in a bad place. We see the prices young horses are making and we see our horses competing at a very high level. When there are worries about the structure of an industry, that has to be addressed in a timely way. There is no point in waiting until the industry starts to slip downwards. As Senator Boyhan said, we will discuss in private session later what the witnesses have said in the public meeting. The committee will come to a consensus and then pass on our views to the Minister. I expect him to come back to us and have a discussion about what we have said and how we would like to see the industry moving forward.

Deputy Fitzmaurice spoke about access to capital. I agree with him that sports capital grants are not the way to go. We need to put a structure in place like what is there for HRI and Rásaíocht Con Éireann, with a fund that can be accessed. That is the right structure to put in place. The sports capital grant is really for voluntary groups and non-commercial entities. If the horsebox is to be kept on the road, it must be a commercial entity. It definitely is not a charity. People must be able to pay the bills.

Deputy Flaherty and then Senator Boyhan wish to come in again.