Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I support this motion and compliment the Minister for putting forward this fund. We are global leaders in horse racing. We are very proud of that in Tipperary, and where Tipperary leads, Ireland follows.

Deputy Cairns has just left the Chamber. I have no truck with what somebody in the greyhound board remarked about the Deputy. It was horrible. Such comments are not needed in this time. We need support and regulations, however, and we must root out any semblance of cruelty to animals which exists. If Deputy Cairns is protesting again, I ask her to bring a greyhound, if she is talking about greyhounds, and not a lurcher.

I salute the men and women, and many women are involved, as well as families, involved in the greyhound racing industry in Tipperary. It is the vital lifeblood of the community. I refer also to the enjoyment given to others and the amount of funding raised at such events as nights at the dogs and race meetings, etc. We are going to cut off our nose to spite our face. As I said last week, are we going to be a utopian country? Will we be a wasteland, with no industry in rural Ireland? Will we all be smoking marijuana? Is that what we are aiming for? It is a silly, childish and pedantic way to look at an industry that is so vital to our economy. We must support it. Ní neart go cur le chéile i gcónaí. We must support the men and women in the industry. By all means, we must have proper regulations and we must reform the greyhound board, because that is badly needed.

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