Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I want to be associated with the tributes paid to the late, great former flat-racing jockey Pat Eddery, who sadly passed away yesterday. He was a truly gifted horseman and a legend of the sport of horse racing. He was a champion jockey 11 times and the winner of 14 British classics. He was associated with some of the best horses of the 20th century, such as Sadler's Wells, Rainbow Quest, El Gran Senor, Grundy, Zafonic, Warning and Pebbles, on which he won the Breeders' Cup Turf in 1985. Born in Newbridge in County Kildare on 18 March 1952, he became one of the greats of the sport of kings. May he rest in peace.

I welcome this Bill. It aims to improve governance, funding and administration arrangements for the Irish horse racing industry so as to underpin the sector's world-class standing and protect and maintain its reputation. I understand that in the course of drafting this Bill, further consideration was given to the pre-legislative scrutiny report of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The number of HRI board members is to be increased by one to accommodate the request of the committee that stable staff be represented on the board. I welcome that.

The Irish bloodstock industry is of enormous economic benefit to this country. It is estimated by the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association that the industry provides in excess of 14,000 jobs and approximately €1.1 billion in economic output and is responsible for exports worth over €200 million.

The legislation will strengthen governance and transparency within horse racing and result in increased efficiency through the streamlining of certain administrative operations. It will clarify the respective functions of Horse Racing Ireland, HRI, and the Racing Regulatory Body, RRB. It will strengthen the integrity functions of the body and improve accountability and control over State funding. The legislation will also provide that Bord na gCon will be statutorily subject to the code of practice for the governance of State bodies or other such codes or policy documents issued by the Government by amending the Greyhound Industry Acts 1958 and 1993.

Key outcomes of the Bill will include improved governance and changes to the HRI board constitution to improve efficiencies and accountability. There will be new statutory committees for HRI, including dedicated committees for persons employed in the industry and the betting sector, in addition to harmonisation of existing statutory committees. Other features include maintaining ICT integrity functions and the retention by the RRB of responsibility for integrity functions and its licensing role. The issuing of hunter certificates and management of entries and declarations for point-to-point racing and the financial receipts associated with those functions will remain with the local hunt clubs. The RRB will be required to consult HRI regarding amendments to the rules of racing and, likewise, HRI will be required to consult the RRB in regard to amendments to its directives.

With regard to streamlining and efficiencies, a single streamlined structure within HRI for the administration and financial management of all other aspects of horse racing will facilitate the elimination of administrative duplication between HRI and the RRB. This includes the processing of income derived from both the registration fees for hunting certificates and licensing of trainers for participation in point-to-point races. These payments are currently processed by the RRB. This will pave the way for increased efficiencies in areas such as finance, IT, payroll, pensions and certain administration aspects in regard to point-to-point racing. This will involve data sharing between HRI and the RRB. Changes to licensing and registration will be subject to annual approval by HRI. Income streams that currently go to local hunt clubs will be unaffected.

I commend the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine, under the chairmanship of Deputy Andrew Doyle, on its role in formulating this important legislation. I recognise the work of the Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine, Deputy Simon Coveney, on bringing this Bill before us for due consideration following the consideration of the recommendations contained in the Indecon report.

I welcome the recently announced €65 million redevelopment plan for the Curragh Racecourse, A Vision for a New Curragh. The Curragh is our premier flat racing racecourse. The best horses, trainers, jockeys, owners and stable staff in the world compete there. It is very encouraging that the redevelopment plan has been produced. I wish well the stakeholders, including the Irish Turf Club, HRI and the private investors. I look forward to seeing the ambitious plan becoming a reality by 2018.

I congratulate the Grand Alliance horse racing syndicate on its fabulous win in Mallow recently in the Munster grand national. I encourage all the members, especially the Ceann Comhairle, to take the bull by the horns and opt for the Irish Grand National in Fairyhouse. I hope the syndicate will have a very successful Easter next year.

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