Michael Collins (Cork South-West, Independent Ireland Party)

Strangely, I was talking there to Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice, who said that the agriculture committee is meeting below and he would like to be up here speaking today, and it was committee members who approved of this funding in the first place last week. It is unfortunate there is a clash. It should not have happened. I apologise for Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice not being here but I will speak on his behalf and speak in support of the motion. A huge thank you to the Minister and the Minister of State across the way for a common-sense approach is being taken. To listen to some of the nonsensical arguments of the other side, I do not know what world they are living in because they are not living in the one I am in.

I acknowledge the tremendous work being done by Independent Ireland's spokesperson on equine issues, Councillor Bill Clear. Bill has been a tireless advocate for the people, the jobs and the communities that make up Ireland's equestrian sector, and we are grateful for his leadership.

Ireland's equestrian industry is far more than a tradition or a pastime; it is one of the most important economic pillars we have, across breeding, racing, sport horses, veterinary work, tourism, transport and farm management. This sector supports around 30,000 jobs. These are real jobs in real communities sustaining families and keeping rural Ireland alive. Economically, the contribution is enormous. The equine industry generates over €2 billion every year from racing and festivals to bloodstock sales, from training yards to farriers and feed suppliers.

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This activity ripples to every corner of the country. Ireland stands as the world leader in thoroughbred production per capita. No other country matches our reputation for breeding excellence. Our foals, our bloodlines and our horsemanship are recognised worldwide. Buyers come from the Middle East, America, Australia, Japan, Britain and across Europe because they know Irish horses are the best in the world. Our successes on the international stage prove it. Irish-bred and Irish-trained horses dominate at Cheltenham, at the Grand National, at Royal Ascot and across the major classics. Irish stallions have sired winners at the Kentucky Derby, the Melbourne Cup and right across Europe. We are home to global powerhouses like Coolmore which has made Ireland the beating heart of world breeding.

Our racing festivals - Punchestown, Galway and the Irish Champions Festival - are among the finest anywhere. They attract owners, trainers and visitors from around the world and help showcase Ireland at its very best. When we speak about protecting this industry, we speak about protecting jobs communities and our national reputation for excellence. We speak about safeguarding rural Ireland. We speak about an industry that is not simply part of our heritage but a global powerhouse that continues to deliver for this country year after year.

Independent Ireland stands firmly behind the sector and with the leadership of Councillor Bill Clear we will continue to champion its importance in government, in policy and in every community that depends on it. We will not stand for the banning of the greyhound industry. We will stand up for and praise those people who have these greyhounds. I listened to criticism from the Social Democrats during the debate on a motion a couple years ago when they picked out the wrong type of dog; they did not even know what a greyhound was. The point is that I went to visit these greyhound farms and I saw the beautiful way these animals were treated with the utmost respect. I would ask people, instead of coming in here shouting and roaring and criticising negatively every day of the week, they should get into the car and-----

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