John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will also support this motion. I very much welcome the €80 million funding for 2017 for both the horse and greyhound industries. As has been alluded to, they provide valuable employment, particularly in rural Ireland. The figure is in the region of 24,000 people, both directly and indirectly, and that is of huge value to the rural economy.

I refer specifically to the greyhound industry because the challenges for the industry are very significant. The Minister of State will be aware that a recommendation from the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine on the greyhound industry was published in January. We need to move on that and we need to implement the legislation. I welcome that the Minister of State will be briefing interested members on the legislation at 6.30 p.m. with a view to having it in place early next year. We need to restore public confidence in the greyhound industry by ensuring there is correct governance in Bord na gCon. The testing procedures for greyhounds should be adhered to strictly in order that people have confidence that the industry is clean and well run. We also need to ensure there is value for money in the very welcome funding we are giving and that the industry rewards the Government's commitment to it. Both industries are estimated to be worth €1.1 billion to the economy. Our investment of €80 million is well rewarded, but there is still very much a need to restore public confidence in the greyhound industry and the confidence of the people who work in the industry. There are many small owners who are in it for the love of the sport and who need the backing of Bord na gCon and the legislation the Minister of State is about to implement and brief us on this evening. While the funding is welcome, there is a lot of work needed in the background. The Minister of State has my support in getting that over the line in order that we can look forward to the industry having a bright, profitable future.

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