Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)

It is important that Deputies have an opportunity to address the House on the work of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly. I am pleased to do so and honoured to be a member of the assembly representing this House. As the Tánaiste noted, the British Irish Parliamentary Assembly is not only about Northern Ireland. Its work shows how relations between Ireland and Britain have matured during the years to the extent that Irish security matters no longer dominate proceedings. Its discussions are now more focused on east-west and cross-Border business and trade opportunities.

It is important to note that 42% of Irish exports go to Britain and that Ireland is Britain's fifth largest trading partner. The United Kingdom exports more to Ireland than Brazil, Russia, India and China combined, which is a startling figure. More than €1 billion worth of traded goods cross the Irish Sea every week. We have the tendency to take this for granted and sometimes do not realise the importance of our near neighbours.

As chairperson of the Fine Gael Party's internal committee on agriculture, I was particularly interested in championing the potential growth of our food and drink exports through my role in the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly. Britain is Ireland's largest food and drink export market and vice versa. If the ambitious target of expanding output and growing exports by more than 40% in this decade, as set out in Food Harvest 2020, is to be achieved, we will need to grow the British market further.

I was pleased to be able to question Eoin Tonge of Greencore on the company's sugar strategy and its view, as a major food producer, of the sugar industry. The decision to cease sugar production here was a major mistake. The high cost Irish companies are paying to source sugar and the difficulties they are experiencing in accessing supply prove this point. It was good, therefore, to have an opportunity to drive home this view which is shared by many farmers.

I also welcomed the opportunity to discuss with the co-chair of the meeting, Mr. Laurence Robertson, MP, whose constituency includes the Cheltenham racecourse, the potential for greater synergies between the Irish and British horse racing and breeding industries. I have a great deal in common with Mr. Robertson, given that the Curragh and Punchestown racecourses are in my constituency. It is interesting to note that he chairs the all-party parliamentary racing and bloodstock industries group in the British Parliament, the purpose of which is to promote the racing and bloodstock industries in parliament, inform Members of both Houses about them and serve their well-being. There is great merit in having such a parliamentary group and perhaps we should establish a similar group in the Oireachtas.

The Irish racing and breeding industries employ in excess of 17,000 people and have an annual value to the Exchequer of close to €1 billion. The British racing industry is worth £3.7 billion per annum and employs 20,000 people directly and a further 70,000 indirectly. In the light of current proposals to change our betting tax regime, I noted with great interest recent changes announced in the UK budget. Ireland and Britain are both seeking to expand their tax bases by introducing a remote betting tax regime, a change with which many countries are struggling. While I am aware that officials in his Department are working hard on this issue, the Minister for Finance must avail of the opportunity to urgently introduce proposed changes for a remote betting tax regime. Today Paddy Power announced a year-on-year increase of 241% in mobile phone betting revenue. Some 38% of sport betting stakes on paddypower.com came from mobile phone users. I welcome the success of Paddy Power which is a large employer in Ireland, but these figures illustrate the betting market is changing. It is vital that the Government adapt to that changing market and take an appropriate level of taxation from it. This would, in turn, help to fund the horse racing and breeding industries which are vital to the country. In Britain the return to the Exchequer in betting revenue is €131 million, while the return to racing is €84 million. In Ireland the return to racing from betting revenue is €27 million, but the return to the Government is zero. This needs to change. There is potential within the industry to grow this revenue and I urge the Department of Finance to do so as quickly as possible.

I have enjoyed my work on the committee chaired by Deputy Frank Feighan. Much work needs to be done on commemorations. It is important that we get the mood right in marking the many commemorations that will take place in the next ten years, particularly the centenary of the 1916 Rising, as well as the contribution of Irish people in the First World War. We must also acknowledge the sensitivities of all citizens on the island with regard to these occasions.

I look forward to the work continuing between the plenary sessions of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly when much work is done. I again thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for giving me the opportunity to address the House on this matter.

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