Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

We have discussed this matter at some length in the past ten days or so, but I must reiterate Fine Gael's support for the extension of this fund to allow the industry to continue to develop and to bring pride and excellence to Ireland. There is a mistaken impression out there - one must wonder about the source of this, and it may be a deliberate attempt to mislead by vested interests - that the general Exchequer is carrying the entire cost of this fund. That is simply not the case. Even if the levy on the industry remained at 1%, the industry would be contributing half of the fund for the current year. As it is, the levy will be doubled to 2% on 1 May and, at worst, the amount to be borne by the Exchequer will be a small residual amount.

When we discussed this at the Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs yesterday, Senator Bradford, who spoke eloquently on the subject, pointed out that the one thing Ireland does well - in fact, the thing at which we are the best in the world - is horses.

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