Results 21,241-21,260 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (20 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: I move amendment No. 15:In page 9, line 11, to delete “issuing” and substitute “certifying”. May I just -----

Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (20 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: On a point of information, this is just one of a number of examples where we have tried to work with Members to improve the legislation. We have not been shy in accepting amendments when they make sense.

Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (20 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: On amendment No. 21, the legislation ensures all interests of the horse racing industry will be represented on the board of HRI. As setting horse racing fixtures is one of the primary functions of HRI and final decisions in this regard need to be ratified by the board, I am seeking to ensure consensus. I cannot accept the amendment as it would undermine the inclusivity I seek to achieve for...

Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (20 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: I move amendment No. 23:In page 12, line 9, after "shall" to insert ", having consulted with the industry services sector,".

Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (20 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: I move amendment No. 25:In page 12, line 39, after "shall" to insert ", having consulted with the betting sector,". This is self explanatory and follows our previous conversation.

Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (20 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: I will respond to this as it is not the right thing to do. I accept what people are saying and I have been around the horse racing industry long enough now to know the importance of owners, who pay for everything, basically. They train horses and make a major contribution to prize money; they have an extraordinary commitment to the sport. Racehorse owners are on the board and that board...

Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (20 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: I am not in favour of giving any particular representative organisation rights where many other representative organisations claim an equal interest. There are already well-established arrangements that are working well. The current media rights negotiation process works reasonably well and most people are quite happy with it. We had a long debate on Committee Stage about trying to...

Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (20 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: I do not pick them. The HRI board picks them.

Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (20 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: I have had conversations with various people on this amendment. The media rights committee works largely through consensus. There are no division or votes on this committee.

Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (20 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: The core of the question we must answer here is whether we or the board of HRI are better placed to determine who are the people on the five-person committee to negotiate media rights on behalf of HRI. We spent a long time looking and taking recommendations on this issue. The board of HRI is very balanced and all of the stakeholders in the racing industry, including racehorse owners, are...

Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (20 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: I have not been asked by racehorse owners. There was no strong call in that regard. My only objective here, which we are following through, is to make sure that HRI, on behalf of the State because this is its legal function, actually puts together the best team possible to get the best financial return from the media rights deals that are available. It then has obligations in terms of how...

Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (20 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: I move amendment No. 28:In page 14, to delete lines 6 to 9 and substitute the following:"(2) HRI shall not alter a directive referred to in subsection (1) affecting trusts or charitable funds extant on the commencement of section 7of the Horse Racing Ireland Act 2016, however so administered without the agreement of the person administering the trust or the fund.".". I am proposing this...

Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (20 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: I move amendment No. 31:In page 16, line 5, to delete "to maintain the existing nature of point-to-point steeplechases" and substitute "to administer and control the integrity of point-to-point steeplechases,".

Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (20 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: For the purpose of clarity, I have made an offer to the Opposition as regards which option it would prefer.

Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (20 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: If that is what the Deputy prefers, I am happy to withdraw the amendment. I do not have a strong view on it.

Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (20 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: This Bill has been carefully crafted to set out clearly the roles of HRI and the Racing Regulatory Body. This amendment would upset that balance. HRI is not an agent of the Racing Regulatory Body but has clear legal functions under this legislation. In the circumstances I do not think it would be helpful to accept the proposed amendment. I know what the Deputy is saying in this...

Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (20 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: I move amendment No. 34:In page 16, line 17, to delete “its”. On Committee Stage we agreed that this provision did not read well. This is a small technical amendment and is consistent with what Deputy Ó Cuív wants to do.

Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (20 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: I had a conversation with the Racing Regulatory Body on this issue and I want to try to accommodate a subtle flexibility in the legislation. It is to enshrine and protect the role of the Racing Regulatory Body in providing integrity functions and racing but it does more than that. Anybody who understands the Turf Club knows that it does a lot more for racing. It holds receptions, it...

Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (20 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: Yes.

Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (20 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: I will accept it today and if there is a fundamental problem we will have to deal with that but I would rather not have to make a lot of amendments in the Seanad because that means it has to come back to the Dáil and we are probably running out of time. For today’s purposes we will accept this amendment and if there is a problem we will have to deal with the consequences.