Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)

I echo much of what the previous speakers, including Deputies Barrett and Mitchell, have said. We have to put this in context. We have been debating the supplementary budget for the last few days. We all acknowledge that Ireland is in an economic crisis. The level of ill-informed debate about the racing, thoroughbred and greyhound industries is extraordinary. This is a hugely important debate in the context of the economic crisis. As Deputy Barrett pointed out, the thoroughbred industry is entirely surrounded by misconceptions. The horse racing industry in this country contributes massively to the Irish economy. At least 20,000 people are directly employed in the thoroughbred industry, without reference to sport horses or any of the rest of it. That is probably a conservative estimate - it could be argued that there are more employees in the industry.

The level of indirect employment that is generated by the thoroughbred industry is also massive. I refer to people who produce and supply feed, hay, straw, leather goods and horse boxes, as well as those who construct stables, yards and the new types of gallops found in training yards. We have to face up to the fact that tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of jobs are indirectly supported by this massively important industry.

Deputy Barrett highlighted the benefits of race days for local economies. The employment that is generated by the thoroughbred industry is not just day-to-day, or week-to-week. Many of the horse racing festivals throughout the country are growing and have significant potential to attract tourists to this country. Festivals like those in Punchestown and Galway generate periodic employment and facilitate investment in local economies. While some of the smaller festivals that take place four or five times a year might not generate €100 million, their importance for local economies should not be under-estimated. It is bizarre that they are being ignored in this debate. We need to showcase this important industry. I am sorry that the development of a new stand at the Curragh is no longer being considered. Such projects are needed if we are to show the world that Ireland has a first-class horse racing industry. If one looks at the Olympic Games, for example, it is evident that Ireland does not rate as highly in any other sport as we do in horse racing. That is a fact.

Deputy Deenihan referred to the sport horse industry, which is very dear to my heart as I was involved in it for many years. It has been abandoned by Government policy over the last 30 years. We used to have the best sport horses in the world. The top ten always used to include a number of Irish-bred horses. A lack of foresight has allowed that to dissipate completely. We need to decide whether we want to turn our banks on the thoroughbred industry, to make the same mistakes and to fail to support this industry. We used to be the best country in the world in terms of horse breeding and production, but we are now turning our backs on the direct and indirect employment associated with it, which is extraordinary.

The notion that taxpayers are subsidising an industry that is dominated by extremely wealthy elites is a myth. Nothing could be further from the truth. Anybody who has any understanding of rural life in this country will be aware of the importance of the horse industry. As others have pointed out, the horse and greyhound racing fund is almost entirely funded from the betting levy. This industry is more than an economic activity in rural areas - it is a way of life in. Many farmers take a brood mare or two to stallion every year. They get a little supplementary income from the breeding of foals. I fail to understand what is wrong with that. This is a sport that, by and large, is run by ordinary hardworking honest to goodness people. It is not the preserve of kings as some would have us believe.

We value very highly the jobs created by multinational corporations in this country. Rightly, there was an outcry about Dell when over 2,000 jobs were lost yet here we are talking about an indigenous industry that creates almost 20,000 direct jobs. How can we place a lesser value on our own domestic jobs in this country? They seem to be reduced somehow and deemed less important than those created by foreign investors. I do not accept that in any shape or form.

This industry is the lifeblood of rural communities. On a smaller scale, the greyhound industry is very important to rural communities and to people in towns and villages around the country who might have a couple of dogs. Their big social outlet, at minimal cost, once or twice a week or month, is to go to the local dog track. There has been wonderful investment here.

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