Dáil debates

Thursday, 17 November 2005

Other Questions.

Sport and Recreational Development.

4:00 pm

Photo of Paul KehoePaul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 7: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the position regarding the establishment of the All-Ireland Greyhound Racing Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34618/05]

Photo of John O'DonoghueJohn O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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Officials from my Department have recently met officials from the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure in Northern Ireland to discuss a number of issues common to both Departments including pursuing opportunities for all-island co-operation in the development of the horse and greyhound racing sectors.

A number of difficulties have been identified by officials with regard to an all-island approach to racing. For instance, responsibility for horse racing spans across a number of Departments in Northern Ireland and there is no central Government role or funding system for greyhound racing there.

Officials will continue to explore the issues involved with their Northern Ireland counterparts to explore the potential for all-island co-ordination in the development of the horse and greyhound racing sectors.

Photo of Jimmy DeenihanJimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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If there is one area in which an all-island body could be justified, it is the area of greyhound racing. Those who support greyhound racing in Northern Ireland come from both communities. It is one sport that attracts universal support from both communities. I am confident the Minister agrees with me on the great potential that exists for an all Ireland greyhound racing body.

Is the Minister aware that the recent blueprint for development of the sector to 2010 published by the British greyhound racing board does not refer to Northern Ireland? No one is looking after the interests of greyhound racing in Northern Ireland which has only one greyhound racing track, situated in the Brandywell, and which is closed. It is very unfair to the patrons of greyhound racing in Northern Ireland. They do not have the facilities such as are enjoyed in Dundalk and Lifford.

Will the Minister indicate if there is any possibility that the Republic of Ireland, through the greyhound board, could assist in the development of greyhound racing in Northern Ireland by using the arrangements in place under the Good Friday Agreement?

Photo of John O'DonoghueJohn O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Deenihan is correct. Investment in the greyhound industry in the North of Ireland has been quite paltry. I understand no funding has been provided to tracks except for a once-off payment in 2001-2002 of €280,000.

Bord na gCon believes there is merit in considering a 32-county approach to greyhound racing and it is well positioned to extend its regulatory responsibility to the North. However, to date the industry in Northern Ireland has not received any financial support of any note or any at all, from the off-course bookmakers' market or from central Government funding. Bord na gCon considers it is crucial that the matter of funding of the sport in Northern Ireland be addressed prior to any determination on allocating responsibilities to an all-Ireland greyhound racing authority. Legislative changes would be required and the scope of the 1958 and subsequent Acts would need to be amended to reflect any change in scope and responsibilities.

I recently met Mr. Hanson, the Minister from the North. We discussed horse racing and greyhound racing but it became clear in the course of those discussions that there really is no clear central government role relating to greyhound racing in the North. In those circumstances it was agreed that officials of both Departments would consider how best to proceed and this is occurring as we speak.

There are obviously difficulties in bringing forward proposals for what is, in the final analysis, another jurisdiction. All we can do is try to see if we can reach a level of co-operation which would see us assisting in so far as we could the industry in the North of Ireland. Currently, 15% of prize money is won by northern greyhounds, which gives an indication of the level of activity here by greyhounds from the North of Ireland and perhaps also an indication of their quality.

Photo of Jimmy DeenihanJimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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In case we do not revisit this issue for some time, if the Northern Ireland Assembly is re-established would the Minister for the remainder of his time in office establish the investigation and putting in place of the type of body that would benefit racing in all parts of the country as a new priority?

Photo of John O'DonoghueJohn O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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This is one of the many areas which could usefully be addressed by a new executive and assembly in the North of Ireland. It is merely one of numerous examples of how the fact there is no assembly and executive in the North is inhibiting development on a cross-Border basis across several socio-economic sectors, one of which is the greyhound industry. My dearest wish is that we would be in a position to discuss with a minister from the executive in the North how we could co-operate and move on in terms of developing the industry on an all-island basis, not seeking any territorial advantage, dominance or anything like that but merely as a matter of commonsense. We have seen that kind of co-operation deliver tremendously well in the tourism sector, another area of my brief, through Tourism Ireland. Unfortunately, until the executive and assembly are up and running again in the North of Ireland it will be difficult to progress projects such as the greyhound industry. This affects several other sectors as well. No doubt co-operation North and South in several fields and sectors is more than desirable as has been illustrated repeatedly.

Photo of Jack WallJack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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On the Minister's meeting with Mr. Hanson and the fact the commitment exists from both sides on the horse racing industry, did Mr. Hanson give any indication that he would try to progress this proposal in line with the overview of what Horse Racing Ireland has been able to do with the tracks in Northern Ireland?

Photo of John O'DonoghueJohn O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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No, he did not give any indication.