Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)

I am only starting.

I am glad to get the opportunity to talk here and support the Government's announcement of this money for the greyhound industry and the horse racing industry. We know what they mean to our county of Kerry. People with greyhounds are out in the morning, late in the evening, walking and exercising the dogs and exercising themselves, and they are a vital part of our community. We hear the Opposition, which was playing to the gallery last Wednesday night about all they would do for the farmers. These are all farmers and they are rural people trying to live the best way they can. We appreciate the level of money the horse racing industry brings to towns like Killarney, with four or five race meetings there. Then we have the big one in Listowel - the harvest festival - and a huge amount of people come from all over Ireland and spend their money in Listowel and the local towns because they cannot all stay in Listowel for the week. We have to be honest and appreciate the colour and the fashion that the ladies bring to places like the Listowel races and Killarney races-----

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