Mr. Derek Iceton:

As there are a lot of questions, please remind me if I omit any. An overarching question has come through about the registration of horses and the Department's computer system with regard to cattle. I am a cattle farmer. The Department does not need to reinvent the wheel. Unfortunately, the movement registrations system it introduced was a paper-based system. The paper-based system broke down. I will give an example. At Goffs last year, if one was a vendor of a foal or a yearling, one had to sign one piece of paper. The sales companies, whether it was Goffs or Tattersalls Ireland refused to handle that piece of paper because it was not within their remit to do so and the purchaser was supposed to go to the vendor and get the piece of paper and then remit that piece of paper back to Weatherbys. I cannot understand this nonsense when it already has a tried and tested system with regard to cattle.

The same proviso in regard to Goffs and Fairyhouse applied. We recommend that it be put into force with due haste.

On Deputy Ó Cuív’s question, I hope we reach a stage at which we can get a proper percentage from the betting industry. What would we do with it? We were here last year and spoke about the alliance for racing. The most important thing we can have is good prize money for racing. From that, there is a trickle-down effect. If racing is profitable, people want to buy horses. Moreover, the general standard of horse in training also increases. As a breeding nation, we are breeding from the females in the racing industry here.

I spoke previously about a mare depreciation scheme. Deputy Penrose asked a question in this regard but I will wait until he returns before I answer it.