Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)

I am glad to be able to speak today. I thank both Ministers for the funding for Horse Racing Ireland and the greyhound industry. It is money that is well spent on something embedded in the rural communities and urban communities. From listening to the debate, you would think that greyhound tracks were something awful. Greyhound tracks in Clonmel and Thurles host fund-raisers for many clubs, schools and other organisations; it is part of our fabric. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Healy-Rae, for being so vociferous in supporting this. I also thank the Minister, Deputy Heydon.

We have great prowess in Tipperary with Coolmore, dozens of other flagship trainers and others in the equine industry. Horse Racing Ireland has provided funding for a state-of-the-art all-weather track at Limerick Junction with great connectivity there. There is one up in Dundalk and this is badly needed. I salute the hard-working and dedicated group driving this. It will bring business, economic and social activity, and enjoyment to many people in weather conditions when racing cannot go ahead on other tracks.

It is a pity that the people here who are trying to stop horse racing will never say a word about the sulky racing that is going on, destroying animals' legs on roads and animals dying on the road. They never talk about that. I introduced a Bill to get sulky racing off the roads. They ignored that and would not even support it.

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