Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I ask the Minister to ensure his Department has more of an oversight on the proposals for any future track closures. It is not in the best interests of the greyhound industry to have some tracks closed, sometimes for the wrong reasons. I know there are private tracks and public tracks. Millions of euro are being invested in some tracks where there are not big attendances, and tracks with small attendances being financially supplemented by IGB. This is a mistake as some tracks are making money but do not get the same financial supports as others that are in financial ruin.

I welcome the Minister's comments on the report that this committee carried out. I compliment the Chair on his work and leadership on the report on the horse racing industry. I plead with the Minister to look at the 11 key recommendations in that. The committee was careful in compiling recommendations that were workable and achievable. If the horse racing industry is compared with the IGB, we have all seen that the IGB has done much recovery work. I do not want to see the horse racing industry going down the same route. It is a proud industry in Ireland. Some of the members spoke about the public commentary, whether it is true or untrue. The committee did not find evidence of any wrongdoing. As we delved into the workings of HRI and the IHRB, it became clear that transparency is required. It is up to the Minister to look at the key recommendations and, along with his officials, to implement the recommendations. I hope this report does not gather dust on a shelf like many other reports and that it receives the respect it deserves because of the work that went into it. Can the Minister comment on some of the key recommendations, one of which is closed circuit television, CCTV? If there are financial shortcomings in terms of putting CCTV in place - this should have been done years ago and I understand IHRB has given a commitment it will be finished soon - will the Minister look at that? I am not going to ask him to give a commitment, because they are already receiving millions of euro already, but for the good of the industry, CCTV on and around tracks is urgently required.

I want to touch on insurance for some of the activities on greyhound tracks. The tracks are finding it extremely difficult because attendances have been down right across all tracks in recent times. The other issue coming down the tracks, pardon the pun, relates to horse racing, point-to-point, pony clubs, hunting and so on. Insurance is crippling them and they are often unable to get insurance from insurance companies. Has the Department done any work on this issue? Has the Minister heard that this is an issue? What actions, if any, will the Department take?