Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I also welcome the Ceann Comhairle back. I welcome the opportunity to speak on this issue, because when people talk about public opinion, there are more places than those around Dublin. Public opinion comes from all around the country. What should be known far and wide is that there are people who might be farming sheep, cattle or whatever and who also breed a horse that might turn out to be good. We must realise what that does for those families. They might know damn all about horses, but it encourages them. It is the same with greyhounds. Therefore, we need to know what public opinion on this issue really is when we talk about this matter.

Our committee report has a few low-hanging fruits, and I have outlined them before. We brought in the animal identification and movement, AIM, system for cattle, I think when the Minister, Deputy Coveney, held the agriculture portfolio, and it was probably one of the best systems that ever came in for traceability. We should examine that type of system for accountability in the horse sector. It is one of those initiatives that is a low-hanging fruit, because a system already exists there for us to work off.

In addition, regarding those who breed horses in a small way, we must examine initiatives such as the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme, TAMS, and the Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, to allow us to find a way to incorporate this type of endeavour within such programmes. Some aspects were introduced to TAMS that were intended to apply to horses, but I do not think they were ever implemented. I ask the Minister to examine that aspect.

Also there are youngsters with ponies. Insurance is becoming a problem around the country. In fairness to the Minister, he did say that he was going to look at it before. We have to think of them. They will start off as youngsters and move their way up along. Some will stay at it and some will not but it is the enjoyment of it. On the benefit of the sector and indeed the greyhound sector, look at the Galway Races. It is one of the best known race tracks. It is not alone the people who go to the races - some people might never even look at a horse - but the spin-off for the hotels and the money spent within the city. It is the economy created in the different places. It is the same thing in respect of greyhounds. A lot of people start off and might buy one dog. No more than in every walk of life there will be one or two people who will not do things right but 99.9% of people will do it right. We will always get the high-profile programme that will castigate everyone or tar everyone with the one brush.

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