Results 1,681-1,700 of 5,615 for speaker:Andrew Doyle

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Taxation Review: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Jul 2014)

Andrew Doyle: Before we begin, I remind members and witnesses to turn off their phones. The purpose of this meeting is to hear presentations from the farm organisations regarding the agri-taxation review. I welcome from the Irish Farmers Association, IFA, Mr. Eddie Downey, president, Mr. Tom Doyle, farm business chairman, Mr. Pat Smith, general secretary and Ms Rowena Dwyer, economist. I welcome from the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of Horse Racing Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Discussion (15 Jul 2014)

Andrew Doyle: On the point-to-points the officials said there is no interference with the Irish National Hunt Steeplechasing Committee which controls the running of point-to-points.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of Horse Racing Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Discussion (15 Jul 2014)

Andrew Doyle: It is a valid point that on first reading does raise a concern. Maybe it is not as serious a point as at first appears. I thank all the witnesses for appearing before the committee today.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of Horse Racing Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Discussion (15 Jul 2014)

Andrew Doyle: I appreciate that Deputy Ó Cuiv had other business to deal with today. I thank everyone for sharing their insights. Having sat through meetings between the meat industry and farm organisations, I can tell the witnesses that the relationship between the bookmakers and the rest of the industry is much healthier and more friendly than between those groups. We have met owners, trainers,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of Horse Racing Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Discussion (15 Jul 2014)

Andrew Doyle: Who runs the two week course?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of Horse Racing Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Discussion (15 Jul 2014)

Andrew Doyle: Is Senator Mary Ann O'Brien happy with the rationale behind it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of Horse Racing Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Discussion (15 Jul 2014)

Andrew Doyle: This arises from head 11 and is not an amendment. It is the existing position and not included in an amendment. Is that correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of Horse Racing Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Discussion (15 Jul 2014)

Andrew Doyle: Therefore, Mr. Grassick is asking for a further amendment to head 11 whereby it would be deleted and moved to head 4.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of Horse Racing Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Discussion (15 Jul 2014)

Andrew Doyle: It is a specific request. It is not clear in how it is written in the submission, but we understand it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of Horse Racing Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Discussion (15 Jul 2014)

Andrew Doyle: Finally we have Deputy Lawlor. You were not being deliberately ignored. I have to allow all members of the committee in first. I was testing your patience.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of Horse Racing Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Discussion (15 Jul 2014)

Andrew Doyle: That is the final array of questions and comments. Who want to start?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of Horse Racing Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Discussion (15 Jul 2014)

Andrew Doyle: I will now take a final round of questions, beginning with Senator Mary Ann O'Brien.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of Horse Racing Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Discussion (15 Jul 2014)

Andrew Doyle: I have more members offering, Senators O'Brien and O'Keeffe and Deputy Lawlor, who is not a member of the committee. I call Mr. Iceton as there were a few questions addressed directly to him.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of Horse Racing Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Discussion (15 Jul 2014)

Andrew Doyle: If Mr. Iceton does not mind-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of Horse Racing Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Discussion (15 Jul 2014)

Andrew Doyle: I will come back to the Deputy. We will bank these questions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of Horse Racing Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Discussion (15 Jul 2014)

Andrew Doyle: Although a few more members are offering, while those points raised by Senator Mooney and Deputy Martin Ferris are fresh in our minds, I will ask the representatives to respond to them starting with Mr. Iceton from the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of Horse Racing Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Discussion (15 Jul 2014)

Andrew Doyle: I call Mr. O'Dwyer.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of Horse Racing Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Discussion (15 Jul 2014)

Andrew Doyle: I call Ms Byrne next to be followed by Mr. Coonan.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of Horse Racing Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Discussion (15 Jul 2014)

Andrew Doyle: Ms Byrne has made a fair contribution. I call Mr. Coonan.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Scheme of Horse Racing Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Discussion (15 Jul 2014)

Andrew Doyle: We all appreciate that the Horse Racing Ireland (Amendment) Bill is about a structure. It is the skeleton on which we want to build an industry and we want to build it on a better frame but we cannot build it without resources. That is accepted. The point has been made that while turnover on betting has increased tenfold, revenue from the industry has decreased regardless of whether it is...