Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

Yes, it is presented now under its own heading, the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund.

I listened to the debate on agriculture but the synergies being developed in the tourism sector are having a considerable effect. A tourism package was created last year by the greyhound industry which flew in several thousand people from France. It organised a specific dog weekend aimed at the French market. This was a great success and the project is to be expanded this year to include Austria, Germany, Spain and Italy. The tote was started up in Sweden and the greyhound sector generated €0.5 million last year. That expansion is being examined. There are many synergies at work here and the industry has much prominence now in the Department. We should not be guided by the current debate as to where the industry's future might lie. Those might be arguments for another day.

I would not undermine what is being achieved, not because I am the Minister in charge but, as Deputy Deenihan said, what we built up in recent years and the potential it has are factors that have a strong primacy right now. Perhaps if it was reduced this might not be the case. I do not mean that people would not care but it has a stronger remit in its present position. It is an important element within the Department.

Deputy Behan made an argument for the small bookmakers. Deputy Barrett captured it very well too and I have spoken on the matter myself recently, as have Deputies Mitchell and Upton. We all agree that the industry as a whole must contribute. The grievance is obvious. Some people are making considerable profits from the industry but they are killing many aspects of it and make no contribution. They are making no contribution but are reaping the rewards of the most successful racing industry in the world. I am no expert and I am sure Deputy Barrett knows much more than I do. Some people refer to English racing being much cheaper. English racing is in considerable trouble. They are all coming to Ireland to race. One of the reasons is that Ireland is successful - we have done the right thing. While many of the prize funds are relatively small, they keep horses in training and small farmers in the business. People should not forget that. That is why Irish racing is far more successful than English racing today. People like the Maktoums are not dependent on the prize money going into point-to-point racing or even some of the bigger races. There are only one or two huge money races and even they would not keep them going. They are in it for other reasons. However, the money generally goes right across the spectrum.

Horse breeding was mentioned earlier. It is ironic in some respects that some of the most successful horses in international show jumping and eventing are Irish bred but are not being ridden from Ireland. They are being bought up by Germans, Brazilians and others. The breeding lines are very good in terms of the production of Irish horses.

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