Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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I thank the Minister for his presentation and ask him for some clarification on the Indecon report. If, as our information suggests, the Department had this report in May, why did it only come out six months later?

I understand that the IHRA, is looking for seed funding of approximately €770,000. Can a commitment be made to give it that money? As the Minister has mentioned himself, it is clear, going through everything that we have seen here, that the IHRA has made a fair effort and even addressed many of the governance issues flagged in the Indecon report. There is a premises in Portmarnock, as the Minister is probably aware, that is currently in receivership and will be sold shortly, and this is an opportunity for the IHRA to move forward. Is there a commitment to solve this?

With regard to horse racing in Ireland, all of us who come from rural Ireland are aware of the benefits of having racing tracks at Galway or wherever else. We can all see what it does for communities when people buy young horses and then have luck with them on the road and the same is true of greyhound racing. I support this but I ask the Minister to confirm that money will be given to the harness racing body to get it up and running because it is clear from the figures we have seen that this would end up as a money-spinner. There has been a lot of betting in other countries, in France for example, on races that have taken place here. As the Minister said, this sport was big years ago and now seems to be making a comeback. There is an opportunity here but when it comes to getting funding harness racing seems to be seen as the bad relation. It would be wrong if one organisation were to be much better looked after than another, particularly if that other organisation might develop into a very good thing further down the road.