Paul Daly (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the witnesses. What is the corporate buy-in for all this? If the Irish Sport Horse Alliance had the money in the morning, is there potential for matching funding from the corporate side? Although it is not specifically a requirement of State funding, the industry will never get a handout unless it has some form of matching funding. Where does the Irish Sport Horse Alliance envisage getting the balance of what it needs even if it got what it is seeking? How does it envisage additional funding being generated if its request for Government input were to be met?

While the presentation indicated the Irish Sport Horse Alliance did not want comparisons, the horse racing side has betting tax and the tote. It has what I call matching funding. If the Irish Sport Horse Alliance got the infrastructure it deserves and desires, what additional income could be created beyond what it is generating at the moment?

This study has been done by people who are ensconced in the industry. How is it funded in other countries? We are talking predominantly about showjumping. I would probably only watch the Aga Khan trophy competition. Countries such as Brazil, USA, Canada, the Netherlands and Germany participate. What kind of model operates in those countries? What state funding do they get?

I have an interest in horse breeding and the thoroughbred side of things. How is the lack of funding affecting our breeding and our reputation? Ireland is a world leader in horse breeding across the board. From what I have heard today, it cannot be helping the cause. How can that be turned back to where we would like to be as a horse-breeding nation?

We are talking mainly about showjumping, but the Irish Sport Horse Alliance represents all horse sport. Does that include harness racing? Is that on the thoroughbred side or is it somewhere in between? Representatives of harness racing have appeared before the committee in looking for a piece of the pie. Does the Irish Sport Horse Alliance work with them or are they under the Irish Sport Horse Alliance umbrella? I know they are not under the HRI umbrella. Is harness racing a third entity?