Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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I will speak to the integrity functions. I take on board the comments regarding payments and fees going through HRI before being passed to the regulatory body. HRI has a statutory function to promote racing and the regulatory body has a function to control racing, and there may be times when the bodies would clash or have different interests. Could the potential be minimised that HRI would restrict funding for integrity services in a way that would inhibit the integrity of racing? Will the witnesses comment on how the Bill will balance those ideas?

With the definitions given in head No. 2, the Turf Club has asked that "integrity service" would be amended to included integrity services provided away from racecourses which are not specifically related to the running of particular races or fixtures. What is the Department's view on such an amendment of the definition? It could be quite important. There would be an obligation on the regulatory body to consult with HRI around the rules of racing. Consulting would encompass taking in views but there would be no obligation to implement such views. Could this be clarified?