Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have received quite a lot of representation on this matter. We have discussed it previously also. I acknowledge there is significant interest and that the industry is part of the overall horse racing industry that we discussed previously. The Deputy seems to be able to cherry-pick the elements of the horse racing sector that he likes and dislikes. Harness racing is part of the horse racing family, however.

I am open to paying additional money in principle but the Deputy will appreciate that I would be hauled in here if I did not have a sound economic rationale for doing so. That is why we are appointing somebody to assess the economic contribution, how the industry might develop, how it should be structured and how we should invest in it strategically. This approach is lacking somewhat in the proposals we have received to date.

It would be a dangerous precedent to start getting involved in subventing retrospectively costs incurred without providing any underlying economic rationale. Therefore, we await the evaluators' report. If this sector has potential — I have no reason to doubt the Deputy in this regard — I am sure it will be reflected in the report and that we will have a sound economic rationale on which to consider how best to assist the industry in the future. The Deputy will appreciate that I cannot dispense taxpayers' funding willy-nilly without the rationale. If I did, I might find myself before the agriculture committee.

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