Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I could. One should consider the success Aidan O'Brien has brought, as did Vincent O'Brien before him, as well as Tommy Wade with Dundrum. The list is endless in respect of horse racing, jumping and the industry as a whole. Someone made reference to the greyhound industry and Senator Ó Domhnaill in particular spoke of the difficulties therein. While the chairman of Bord na gCon, Phil Meaney and the Minister, Deputy Coveney, had discussed it, one of my first actions on taking this job was to investigate what was going on in the industry. I have put in place a structure whereby within the next few months, a report will be handed to me. I have sought a nuts and bolts, bare report and wish to be told upfront in order to ascertain how the industry can progress. Last Saturday night, I attended the night of stars in Shelbourne Park and the place was packed. I revert to Senator Bradford's point about the reason Bord na gCon is really successful in attracting people of all ages. People were on a social night out and there were traffic jams at 7 p.m. because people were trying to get into that part of Dublin. This really is an industry about which there is much good. Obviously, there have been difficulties in the past and the board is being criticised day in and day out but contrary to Senator Ó Domhnaill's suggestion, the borrowings are €24 million, not €30 million. They are a lot lower than the Senator stated and the facts are a little bit different. Moreover, these accounts have been signed off by the Comptroller and Auditor General. Bord na gCon and its future will be considered next March or April and a road forward will be charted. It involves a lot of small operators in rural areas who, like in the horse industry work out of small farms to produce dogs and pups, which they can export to England. They are really successful and are no different to the horse racing industry.

Both industries go hand in hand and that is the reason I feel vindicated and proud to stand before Members to state the Government is supporting this industry. There is a sporting aspect involved in it and I realise it has support but the other aspect concerns its economic value to rural areas at a time when rural Ireland is under a lot of pressure. Many industries are leaving, there is a scarcity of jobs and people are leaving rural areas for England, America and Australia but yet, jobs can be created in the horse and greyhound racing industry. I invite Senator Barrett to visit a place like County Tipperary and to attend a race meeting. I will introduce him to some of those involved in the industry and everyone could learn from it. After spending a day in County Tipperary or somewhere similar, as Senator Bradford might take him to Cork or Senator Cummins might take him County Waterford - it could be any part of the country - he would return and state these are real jobs with people committed to an industry. It certainly is worth supporting.

As for other issues, Senator Ó Clochartaigh asked about pylons and it would be remiss of me not to address that issue. Representatives of the industry have been speaking with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Coveney, in this regard. A meeting was held within the past week and another meeting has been scheduled for this purpose. The industry representatives have made a genuine case regarding the effect the pylons would have on thoroughbred horse breeding and on horses as they train in the fields. This issue is being investigated as part of the consultations. While it is not the responsibility of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, if it has an impact on the Department, we certainly will make a submission to the relevant Minister and to EirGrid. However, I suggest that people should talk to EirGrid. A few weeks ago, I took a group of people from south Tipperary to meet representatives of EirGrid and a useful discussion ensued on the manner in which the company is doing its business. As Members might be aware, there is a proposal for a project to go through Munster in particular that is creating a lot of controversy as there is a lot of racing and many racehorses in that province. On foot of the aforementioned consultation, the Government will take everything into account. Anything that affects the racehorse industry must be considered and I urge EirGrid to do so. I believe I have dealt with the decline in attendances and in response to Senator Bradford, I take the point that many older people attend race meetings. However, while I would love to be at a race meeting in Clonmel or Thurles tomorrow evening, I cannot go because I am here. In other words, people are tied up and cannot go as they obviously are working, whereas pensioners can go to race meetings. Certainly, there is an opening for racetracks to engage in the promotion of events in the various racetracks nationwide such as the charity events operated by Bord na gCon. I acknowledge there is a genuine need for such promotion. Overall, however, the industry is not strictly a sport but is an industry that makes a valuable contribution to rural Ireland and I certainly believe it should be supported. I am in the Chamber this afternoon to seek Members' support.