Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I understand the Deputies are attempting to deal with point-to-point racing and the role of the national steeplechase committee. This section is dealing with the functions of HRI, which is a State body. In my view, it is not appropriate to deal with the role of a private body within the functions of a State body, which is why we have dealt with the issue that is being raised here in the amendment I have proposed, which is amendment No. 31.

Let us not forget there is nothing in the legislation at the moment in regard to point-to-point racing for the national steeplechase committee or the Turf Club. The Deputy himself said it is not in the legislation as it is an amateur sport. On the one hand, the Deputy said that by putting words in, we are excluding other roles. There are no exclusions here. All we are doing, for the purposes of being helpful, is clarifying that to administer and control the integrity of point-to-point steeplechases is the role of the regulatory body. It is self-evident that all of the other things that are currently there in terms of the management and running of those point-to-points remains as is. There is no hidden risk here, or anything like that.

The Deputy is making a big issue out of something. He asked that we hold on to the administration of the sport. That is exactly what we are doing - putting it in legislation that it would administer and control the integrity of point-to-point racing.

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