Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach is correct that I have raised detailed points to which I would not expect him to be able to respond today but I do expect him to follow up on this matter. This is a task beyond the Taoiseach. The wholesale illegality is an open secret in the industry. It will not be sorted by any one individual or agency. It requires a multi-task force to intervene to ensure that our laws are being upheld, because they are not. I would suggest that what might be advisable is a confidential hotline to allow good trainers in the industry, who want to adhere to the law and to pay the correct rates but are being viciously under-cut by the black market, to speak up. I am speaking in this regard of the staff who are virtually indentured slaves and small owners and trainers who are often the back-bone of employment in rural areas and want to play a role. They will provide the information. Sadly, the response of this Government has been to appoint to Horse Racing Ireland the very people connected with Coolmore and the big players in the industry - the vested interests at the top. We will not the answers from those people. What we need is outside independent scrutiny.

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