Results 381-400 of 1,026,964 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:Terry Leyden OR speaker:James O'Connor) in 'Committee meetings'

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Horse Racing Ireland
Financial Statements 2022: Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (20 Jun 2024)

James O'Connor: Before I start I know that Mr. O'Loughlin has had a bereavement and I offer my sympathies to him and his family at this time. It is no secret that my family are involved in horse racing. I have no stake or claim to it but I have an interest in the sport. I will follow on from what Deputy Murphy has raised. What was seen in the "RTÉ Investigates" programme was the barbaric treatment...

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Horse Racing Ireland
Financial Statements 2022: Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (20 Jun 2024)

James O'Connor: Do not give me that nonsense. I am not going to accept that.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Horse Racing Ireland
Financial Statements 2022: Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (20 Jun 2024)

James O'Connor: One second, Chairman, this is a very valid point. I am talking about the facility that was shown on the recordings from RTÉ. Mr. Sheahan should not go down the line of talking to me about the abattoir.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Horse Racing Ireland
Financial Statements 2022: Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (20 Jun 2024)

James O'Connor: They were welfare complaints concerning the animals.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Horse Racing Ireland
Financial Statements 2022: Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (20 Jun 2024)

James O'Connor: On the point I made in my first contribution, does Mr. Sheahan not accept that could be looked at? It is a very appropriate step where multiple complaints are made and, in this case, we know there were five.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Horse Racing Ireland
Financial Statements 2022: Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (20 Jun 2024)

James O'Connor: That should raise alarm bells. As somebody who lives on a farm where we have dairy and horses, I think five complaints is an extraordinarily high number. Would the Department not consider putting in monitoring or something else on a long-term basis whereby that analysis is done over time? We now know that following the five complaints, the Department was saying there was no problem but the...

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Horse Racing Ireland
Financial Statements 2022: Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (20 Jun 2024)

James O'Connor: What of the damage that has been done?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Horse Racing Ireland
Financial Statements 2022: Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (20 Jun 2024)

James O'Connor: I also highlight the ecosystem involved here, where there was one single facility adjacent to or apart from the rest - whatever the structuring was is their own business. The Department has now put that out of action through its own work. What is happening in the absence of that? Mr. Sheahan should think about that and the damage that has been done. Animals will potentially be exported...

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Horse Racing Ireland
Financial Statements 2022: Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (20 Jun 2024)

James O'Connor: It is a very valid point. On behalf of the racing community, I express that as a concern.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Horse Racing Ireland
Financial Statements 2022: Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (20 Jun 2024)

James O'Connor: They are massive from a welfare perspective.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Horse Racing Ireland
Financial Statements 2022: Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (20 Jun 2024)

James O'Connor: We have the initial exposure, the consequential reaction at Government level and the public reaction to it, but the unforeseen consequences are the latter part of the three phases, in my view. That is more concerning than anything. We might have animals being put onto boats and the Department will know well in the context of calf exports how precarious that is.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Horse Racing Ireland
Financial Statements 2022: Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (20 Jun 2024)

James O'Connor: Does the Department have an intention to deal with it?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Horse Racing Ireland
Financial Statements 2022: Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (20 Jun 2024)

James O'Connor: I accept the Department cannot come up with something but it has responsibility and it cannot escape that. A much more interventionist approach initially would have been helpful, as we now know. That is not an acceptable answer. The Department needs to have an answer to this within weeks.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Horse Racing Ireland
Financial Statements 2022: Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (20 Jun 2024)

James O'Connor: I am not talking about somebody else. The Department should directly intervene in the situation.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Horse Racing Ireland
Financial Statements 2022: Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (20 Jun 2024)

James O'Connor: What of the unintended consequence that animals will leave the island?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Horse Racing Ireland
Financial Statements 2022: Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (20 Jun 2024)

James O'Connor: With all due respect, five complaints were made and the Department made a determination that it was not worthy of concern for the reasons that Mr. Sheahan has outlined. That is why it is now toxic.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Horse Racing Ireland
Financial Statements 2022: Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (20 Jun 2024)

James O'Connor: I will come back with a second round of questions.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Horse Racing Ireland
Financial Statements 2022: Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (20 Jun 2024)

James O'Connor: I will ask my first question quickly as it is something that is bothering me. Mr. Sheahan said something in the last round that one person involved had a Garda complaint made against him for animal cruelty. Is that right?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Horse Racing Ireland
Financial Statements 2022: Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (20 Jun 2024)

James O'Connor: In relation to animal cruelty.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Horse Racing Ireland
Financial Statements 2022: Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (20 Jun 2024)

James O'Connor: Was Mr. Sheahan aware of that prior to when the inspections took place? I mean the five previous complaints and following inspections. Was he aware of that Garda conviction?