Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That is a point I picked up. I know some of Deputy Kelly's colleagues in the Labour Party previously have said the money should be taken from this fund for other sports. It misses a broader point. The Government does not treat horse or greyhound racing as a sport. I am not a Minister with the Department of sport; I am a Minister with the Department of agriculture. For very good reason, the horse racing or greyhound racing industries come under the Department of agriculture because they are just that. They are industries that employ thousands of people the length and breadth of the country in areas of rural Ireland where there is not the same amount of other economic activity and job opportunities.

We are, as a Government, actively increasing our support for sport. We saw the huge success of the Irish team this year at the Olympics. We saw the massive investment in the latest round of sports capital grant funding and the great investment there will be in large-scale sports infrastructure funding. Next Sunday alone, our county grounds in "Newbridge or nowhere" will finally officially open. It has been a recipient of direct support from the Government under the large-scale sports infrastructure fund. There has been no shortage of support from the Government for sport but this is different. This is jobs, economic activity and, as has been said by a number of contributors, part of our core culture, particularly in rural Ireland but across the whole country. The Government's commitment to these sectors is reflected in the Programme for Government: Our Shared Future, which seeks to ensure the horse and greyhound racing industries achieve their maximum potential and in doing so contribute to the economic and social development of the country. Successive governments have steadfastly supported these industries and the jobs they provide, through legislative measures and policy initiatives for a considerable length of time. The horse and greyhound racing industries have a wide geographic spread and contribute to a balanced regional economy across rural Ireland in particular.

The welfare of horses and greyhounds is of the utmost importance to both industries and I am assured HRI and RCE are striving to ensure the highest standards, with both industries making substantial investment in integrity and welfare initiatives.

The Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund has played a key role and providing this investment and has been influential in influencing the future of these sectors. The Irish economy continues to face many challenges and coupled with the fact we are a small and open economy, naturally prone to volatility, it can be somewhat difficult to fully predict what the future holds. It is therefore crucial we support these important industries and their continued navigation through these challenges as we enter into 2025.

The Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund has been pivotal in shaping the development of both the thoroughbred and greyhound racing industries and I believe the €99.1 million allocation is vital to help secure jobs and sustain communities, particularly in rural Ireland. The Irish equine and breeding industry is extremely competitive at a global level and is a true example of superiority in the field. The future of the greyhound industry is dependent on a strong governance platform and on the industry having the highest standards of integrity and welfare founded on a strong regulatory system. The investment directed towards the greyhound sector is vital for upholding a time-honoured tradition and fostering economic development across the country. The particular importance of the funding for this industry to rural Ireland is well recognised.

As I stated in my opening address, section 12(13) of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001 provides that a draft of these regulations be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas and a resolution approving the draft be passed by each House. Again, I ask for support in ensuring Horse Racing Ireland and Rásaíocht Con Éireann receive the funding provided for in budget 2025. I commend this regulation to the House for approval.

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