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

I had a conversation with the Racing Regulatory Body on this issue and I want to try to accommodate a subtle flexibility in the legislation. It is to enshrine and protect the role of the Racing Regulatory Body in providing integrity functions and racing but it does more than that. Anybody who understands the Turf Club knows that it does a lot more for racing. It holds receptions, it promotes, markets and enhances the reputation of racing and is extremely committed to that. Most of its members are volunteers.

This section states that HRI shall account for and pay without undue delay or any set off a counter claim or deduction to the Racing Regulatory Body any funds received by it under section 39(1)(d) as a result of its registration. We are talking about what HRI takes account of when it is signing off on a budget for the Racing Regulatory Body in respect of providing integrity services. The wording is not unreasonable. It is not my wording. There are some risks because it has not been approved by Parliamentary Counsel. Some of my advisers are a little uncomfortable with that issue.

From my perspective this adds to the fact that such amounts shall be taken into consideration when determining a budget for integrity services under subsection (1). We will add to that "after appropriate deductions for the reasonable requirements of the Racing Regulatory Body to ensure it maintains appropriate independent functions and infrastructure". In other words the cost of maintaining its independence and infrastructure for delivering the services that it has needs to be taken into account when those decisions are being made by HRI. That is not unreasonable so I will accept it.

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