Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

At his press conference on Friday, 15 May 2020, the Taoiseach announced that horse racing was to return on 8 June. Horse racing worldwide is known as having two codes, thoroughbred and trotting racing. Trotting is the largest form of horse racing within Europe, and where both codes exist, the relevant governments allowed both to recommence at the same time. These countries include France, Sweden, Norway, Germany, Finland, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Denmark, Holland, Canada, the USA, Australia and New Zealand. In Ireland the Irish Harness Racing Association, IHRA, is the governing body for trotting racing. On Tuesday, 14 May, the IHRA forwarded its 70-page document of racing protocols, similar to Horse Racing Ireland's, HRI's, submission, and a letter addressed to the Taoiseach and to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The IHRA has been told it is now at the Taoiseach's office but no response has been given allowing the IHRA to recommence its racing season. The IHRA has also been informed by the officials of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, that the Taoiseach's announcement about the resumption of horse racing was only for thoroughbred racing and not for trotting. Will the trotting racing, under the IHRA, be allowed in Ireland under phase 2? Given the decision on 15 May to allow the return to racing involving the HRI on 8 June, does the Taoiseach agree that the IHRA should be granted the permission to commence? Otherwise, the response would be highly discriminatory and violate competition laws. The greyhound industry wants to reopen greyhound racing in a safe manner at the same time as other sports such as horse racing. Greyhound racing is well regulated and is of considerable financial benefit to rural and urban communities. Will greyhound racing reopen in phase 2?

Businesses are haemorrhaging at an enormous rate in west Cork, as must be the case all over the island. Massive efforts are being made by businesses to keep their doors open, but even having a picnic bench outside their businesses 2 metres apart is not being allowed, leading to massive frustration in towns such as Kinsale, Bandon, Clonakilty, all the way back to Schull, Bantry and Skibbereen. There is a feeling that we are being treated like areas in Dublin where there are high corona virus rates. Will the Taoiseach tell me where the public can access a town by town breakdown of how many Covid-19 cases there are in their areas, similar to the breakdown for the hospitals?

Why are we not investing in Covid-19 testing in our airports and ports as in Singapore and Vienna so that we can open up our country in a safe manner to people who want to come here for whatever reason? There could be a simple test at the point of entry, sent to an Irish laboratory which sends results back within hours, and a certificate granted showing the person to be Covid-19 free.

This is a no-brainer and while the State will have to invest very little in it, it will provide a massive boost to our economy and make people safe in their communities, welcoming people from wherever they come. While we invested in private hospitals for genuine reasons at the beginning of the pandemic, now is the time to invest in some of our excellent labs that can provide same day results and in so doing, kick-start our economy again.

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