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

We can go through the individual amendments. Let me be clear on this because I do not want a rewriting of the debate we have had. We had a pre-legislative stage where no big issue was raised in this regard and no recommendations to change this came from the committee, of which the Deputies are members. We had a very long discussion of this on Committee Stage. The Deputies know my position on it. We are not changing, interrupting or undermining point-to-point racing in Ireland and we are certainly not facilitating the kind of power grab Deputy Penrose seems to be advocating is happening. It is not happening.

We are trying to do what is reasonable and accurate from a legal perspective. I am happy to go back to the wording we had on Committee Stage, which everybody felt was a reasonably balanced wording, from what I remember, if that is what Members prefer. However, we thought amendment No. 31 added to the clarity being provided for the national steeplechase committee in terms of its role in administration of point-to-points, along with local hunt clubs, and in terms of its responsibility for the integrity services. Now, Deputy Penrose says he wants the word "governance" in there as well. I am sorry but this refers to administering in terms of running the point-to-points.

How much belt and braces do we need to have? We have an accurate wording that is approved by the Parliamentary Counsel in terms of the legalities. That is consistent with the points I made on Committee Stage, which are consistent with the points Deputy Penrose made then. We could have left the existing wording, which everybody seemed to be reasonably happy with. However, I said I would see if we could strengthen it. We have come back with a proposal to strengthen it, in line with the views and concerns expressed.

The Deputy is responding as if I am trying to change the goalposts, but I am not. There is no attempt being made to change the way in which point-to-point races are run in Ireland. This is consistent with the wording in the legislation, on which we asked the Parliamentary Counsel to provide clarity.

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