Results 621-640 of 24,183 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2024: Motion (16 Oct 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Cathaoirleach and members for accommodating this resolution and discussion today. The horse and greyhound sectors are embedded in the social and economic fabric of our country, particularly in rural Ireland. Successive Governments have acknowledged the significance of both industries by supporting them through legislation, policy initiatives and the provision of funding. This...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2024: Motion (16 Oct 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: There is an allocation for capital and an allocation for current as part of the budgetary allocation. We set up both HRI and RCÉ to steward the industries and to engage with key stakeholders. On the guidance within that, while there would be engagement with my Department, we try and empower both agencies to spend the funding in as effective and impactful a way as possible.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2024: Motion (16 Oct 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I think we have had a good engagement with HRI. A business case has been submitted on which we have provided positive feedback. The next step would be the business case following on from tender, that is the final business case. I am confident from the engagement we have had with HRI on the allocation that can be there from the capital allowance from the Horse and Greyhound Fund and also...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2024: Motion (16 Oct 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Deputy Kenny. It is a strong allocation but it is really important for both industries. I think both industries deliver significantly in return. They are really important parts of the economy when you look at both of them in totality. Certainly, when you look at our horse racing sector in particular, it is up there at the very top of the world table across different metrics. It...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2024: Motion (16 Oct 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: We expect it very shortly.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2024: Motion (16 Oct 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: We expect it before the end of this year.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2024: Motion (16 Oct 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Very quickly after that, yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2024: Motion (16 Oct 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: There is a panel in place we can procure from. The panel is already in place, so that structure is there. It will be a matter of procuring the report from the panel that is in place. It should be in a position to commence pretty quickly.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2024: Motion (16 Oct 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: We get an annual report, which has a significant breakdown of detail regarding how the funding is spent and the returns for that. Then we have the strength and health of the sector. The horse racing sector has been performing really strongly in terms of jobs and economic output. Likewise, we have seen an uptick in the strength of the greyhound sector and greyhound racing too, which has...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2024: Motion (16 Oct 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: There is, yes. They would meet and have to comply with all auditing requirements, and with the Comptroller and Auditor General as well.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2024: Motion (16 Oct 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Deputy Mythen. With regard to Rásaíocht Con Éireann, for example, a minimum of 10% of all funding must go towards welfare services. With regard to HRI, 20% has to be applied for integrity services. On HRI, I think it was Deputy Kenny who was asking about the capital breakdown.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2024: Motion (16 Oct 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: At my last meeting with it, it informed me it was exceeding that 10% level. Obviously, as the fund increases the percentage requirement will still apply, so the figure spent on it will increase too. It is a key requirement. In terms of the plans it has in place, we will be seeing an increase. It is being stepped out further compared to where it is at present. With regard to the capital...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2024: Motion (16 Oct 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I will come back to the Cathaoirleach further on this. It is not something I have discussed with the sector. I will get the committee a note on it. I allocated funding to harness racing last year in the budget. It was the first time an allocation was made to it. It is a sector we would like to see supported and developed. On the particular point relating to a tote, the Irish Harness...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2024: Motion (16 Oct 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Deputy Fitzmaurice is addressing the challenges in the sport horse sector.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2024: Motion (16 Oct 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Horse Racing Ireland and Rásaíocht Con Éireann work very well with the funding that is allocated. They administer it very well and effectively. There have been challenges with the sport horse sector, working through Horse Sport Ireland in recent years. It is known the previous board stood down 18 months or more ago. I stepped in to appoint a new board to try to bring the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2024: Motion (16 Oct 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I am not sure which rules the Deputy is referring to.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2024: Motion (16 Oct 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I am not aware, Deputy Fitzmaurice.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2024: Motion (16 Oct 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: There would be an obligation on the HRI and Rásaíocht Con Éireann to monitor closely with their committees and stakeholders, but also through an annual report which is published. There is ongoing engagement with my Department and thorough auditing, plus oversight by the Comptroller and Auditor General.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2024: Motion (16 Oct 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Very much so. Funding is contingent on continuing progress and development in respect of welfare safeguards. Rásaíocht Con Éireann has done exceptional work. Its new traceability system has over 50,000 greyhounds registered and the greyhounds are monitored throughout their lifespan. There has also been very significant investment in rehoming programmes. It has been good to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Pre-Agriculture and Fisheries Council: Discussion (16 Oct 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: In that respect, I welcome the Commission's recent proposal to amend the 2012 regulation on measures to address unsustainable fishing of shared stocks by non-EU countries. Moving on to the sustainability impact assessment itself, an open consultation process was initiated on 16 September, whereby stakeholders were asked to submit their comments and observations on the ICES scientific advice...