Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister because on Committee Stage he proposed that the HRI would have to allow for the costs of the Turf Club and the Irish National Hunt and Steeplechase Committee, INHSC, maintaining an appropriate infrastructure when arriving at an appropriate integrity budget.

That is important and I believe this amendment reflects that in the legislation. Otherwise, let us be honest, the HRI would have an excessive level of control over the independent regulator, which simply means that the racing regulatory body could no longer operate as an independent entity. This guarantees that it will be well set in stone. The amendment is important from that perspective. I think the Minister has seen this himself and I thank him for being constructive in this regard.

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