Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I will come back to the Cathaoirleach further on this. It is not something I have discussed with the sector. I will get the committee a note on it. I allocated funding to harness racing last year in the budget. It was the first time an allocation was made to it. It is a sector we would like to see supported and developed. On the particular point relating to a tote, the Irish Harness Racing Association requested the assistance of the Department to operate a tote from the Department of Justice. Responsibility for issuing of tote licensing rests with the Minister for Finance under the Totalisator Act 1929. As far as departmental officials are aware, the Irish Harness Racing Association has been corresponding directly with the Department of Finance on this.