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

In this momentous week for the Irish racing industry, with Irish horses securing first, second and third places in the Melbourne Cup, I am sure the Deputy will join me in recognising this achievement, which is a significant acknowledgement of Irish global leadership in equine matters.

Horse Racing Ireland, HRI, is a commercial State body established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001. It is responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry. The racing regulatory body - the Irish Turf Club - is a private body charged under legislation with responsibility for the integrity and the reputation of Irish racing in Ireland and internationally.

Horse Racing Ireland has informed me that there are proper anti-doping protocols in place and all Irish horses are tested to the required international standards. HRI confirmed that all thoroughbred horses, once returned in training, are subject to random, unannounced testing by the Turf club at any time. Winners of every race run in Ireland are tested. All samples are tested to the standards required by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities, IFHA. Samples are tested both at the authorised Irish laboratory and accredited international laboratories.

HRI's medium-term aspiration is to develop an Irish laboratory to the highest international standard possible, that is, an IFHA reference laboratory, of which there are currently only four or five in the world. This will require significant investment and HRI has committed to this expenditure in its strategic plan for the coming years.

The board of HRI, in conjunction with the Turf Club, established a 16-member industry-wide anti-doping task force, which includes representatives of all sections of the racing and breeding industries, including HRI, the Turf Club, the Association of Irish Racehorse Owners, the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association, the Irish Racehorse Trainers Association, Weatherbys Ireland and the Irish sales companies. In February 2016, HRI published a report by the Irish thoroughbred industry anti-doping task force, setting out recommendations to ensure the drug testing regime for Ireland's racing and breeding sectors operates to the highest international standards. The organisations represented on the task force are committed to ensuring the drug testing regime in the Irish racing and breeding sectors is one that can meet current and future challenges. The organisations the task force represents strongly support a robust anti-doping strategy in Irish racing and breeding.

The task force is being reconvened to finalise the steps being taken to extend testing to the breeding industry, an area which does not fall under the Turf Club's current direct jurisdiction. Considerable progress has been made on the key principles of a testing regime which will now be applied to the pre-racing segments of the industry, including the breeding sector and the sales. Elective testing already takes place at blood stock sales in Ireland and no positive tests for anabolic steroids or substances prohibited at all times have been recorded. More than 1,500 samples are taken each year.

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