Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)

I supported this legislation on Committee Stage and the measure the Minister has brought before the House today. Listening to Leaders' Questions and the Order of Business one could be concerned about funding for other sectors of society but we are speaking today about the greyhound and racehorse industries.

Coming from Kildare, where the racehorse and greyhound tracks are a major employment factor, one can see the benefit to the Exchequer from a tourism point of view, particularly in the case of horse racing. We have the Punchestown and derby festivals as well as the classics on the Curragh during the year. The major benefit of these events to Kildare is obvious, as is the spin-off benefit to hotels, bed and breakfast premises, taxi and other services that are part of such occasions.

There is concern in the Labour Party that Exchequer money, apart from that ring-fenced in respect of off-course betting, is being used in this regard. I understand the position people take on that but the other side of the coin is that, within the time frame the Minister is putting in place in this legislation, the greyhound and horse racing industries will be self-sufficient within that three to four year period. We should draw that conclusion from the legislation. I ask the Minister to give a guarantee to the House that this funding will be ring-fenced and if a situation arises whereby any funding other than that generated from off-course betting is needed, he will seek a further direction from this House. In that way, the concerns of many people about the availability of hospital beds, waiting lists and so on, which have been expressed not only in this House but across the country through concerned groups, will be addressed because the items covered by this legislation were properly debated in the Dáil and the Seanad.

In examining the progression of the greyhound and racehorse industries in recent years one can reflect on the improvements in the facilities, entertainment value and location for the ordinary supporter of those industries. It is fair to believe, therefore, that if facilities have improved for the ordinary supporter they have also improved for employees in the racing industry. It is imperative that continues and that the canteen and rest room facilities etc. for stable boys and others involved in the greyhound industry are improved in line with the overall improvements and developments in places like Galway, the Curragh, Naas and so on.

Everyone should benefit from this legislation. We will see an increase in off-course betting because of the improvement in the standards of races as a result of the funding we are able to put in place, and we will attract overseas interest in our home-bred horses and greyhounds. In that way the Exchequer will benefit greatly because of increased tourist numbers. The figures in respect of Punchestown have improved on a yearly basis to such an extent that it is now approaching the position where it will challenge Cheltenham as the prime national hunt facility in the world. If we do that, more funding will be generated for other areas such as hospital beds, medical cards and so on. I ask the Minister to ensure that in ring-fencing this funding we do not move to direct Exchequer funding, and that such a measure would be debated in this House.

Deputy Deenihan spoke about the major improvements in the greyhound industry. I saw the effects of those improvements throughout the country. I visited the greyhound tracks in Galway, Tralee, Newbridge and Shelbourne Park — I attended the track in Harold's Cross the other night — and one can see the major benefits to the ordinary person who can enjoy himself for a small fee. People can enjoy running a dog or supporting a friend who has a runner. I was amazed to see many young people in Shelbourne Park the other night, many of whom had formed groups to purchase a dog and in that way enjoyed having runners at these races.

I understand the view of some people that horse racing is an elite sport enjoyed by those in the upper echelons of society, who have put Ireland on the international scene, but there is more to it than that. I live in Kildare where there is a major emphasis on horse racing and the greyhound industry and I see how the county has changed from being agriculture based to horse racing based. Because of improvements in machinery we do not have the same level of employment in farming as we did in the past. That development has transferred to the greyhound and horse racing industries and that is reflected in the employment figures in Kildare, which have decreased dramatically in recent years.

This step forward will result in a major improvement in facilities and Exchequer returns. It will also boost tourism figures because we will have the facilities, race meetings and standard of horse and greyhound to attract overseas investment and visitors. Due to the implications of this and the views within my party I will not support the motion but will abstain from voting. As I said at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, while I support the Government on this motion I will not vote for it but will abstain. I fully support what the Minister said and the mechanisms used here to advance the greyhound and horse racing industries.

See this speech in context