Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. In 2012, horse racing contributed €1.1 billion to this economy. Its exports to 27 countries in 2013 were estimated to be worth €205 million. It is important, therefore, that we get this legislation right and ensure transparency and accountability in horse racing. The entire horse racing structure must be democratised. In that respect, I am concerned about the proposals on ministerial appointments and changes in the structure of the board of Horse Racing Ireland.

The Bill seeks to change the current status of the Horse Racing Ireland board and the committee that submits policy decisions to the board for approval. Since its establishment in 2001, it has been the policy of the HRI board to approve committee decisions and recommendations. It could be argued that the primary reason for the proposed changes to the HRI board is to give more central control to the executive and to dilute the power of industry bodies whose representatives are elected to the board by members. One could also argue that this has allowed large corporate bookmaking companies to exercise control over Horse Racing Ireland, which is a semi-State company.

Online gambling is worth approximately €2 billion per annum while land-based gambling is worth approximately €1.7 billion per annum. As such, the gambling industry is worth almost €4 billion per annum. Many people will argue that vested interests in the bookmaking chains have a strong lobby and exercise considerable influence through Horse Racing Ireland and its connections. This, we believe, sends out a dangerous signal. The proposed changes in the Bill support my argument that the legislation increases the powers of the executive. For example, it is proposed to reduce the number of elected representatives on the HRI board and increase the number of ministerial appointments to the board. Powerful on-course bookmakers now have provision for a seat on the HRI board which they did not have in the past.

The change in structures for certain financial committees, including on media rights, that take power away from racecourses and traditional industry bodies means a move from three seats to five, two of which appointments will be made by HRI but may not be members of HRI. This changes the balance of power in favour of the executive. The Bill seeks to remove any independent financial support from the industry body, the Turf Club, and to give it to the executive of HRI. This will control and further weaken the industry body. Anything that reduces the integrity of a body, such as the Turf Club, or gives the impression of having done so, sends out a dangerous signal. How can the racing and regulatory body be solely and independently responsible for making the rules of racing if it has a statutory obligation to consult with HRI before doing so?

I note there is nothing in the Bill regarding harness racing. The Irish Harness Racing Association recently made a presentation to the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine. I understand the association has also been in contact with the Minister. I would like to see its interests forming part of this Bill, as, I am sure, would other members of that committee. Many would argue that it has been left outside the loop because, as put to the committee by a member of the association, it is a working man's and working woman's sport. That sector of the industry receives no financial support from the Department. It has been ignored continuously. The HRI has been preventing those involved from having access to privately owned race tracks. Perhaps the Minister would clarify in his response whether he intends to take on board amendments to include harness racing in this Bill. We believe this would be helpful.

On forestry, the Minister said earlier that on enactment of this Bill only one consent will be required and that this will be administered by his Department. Currently, consent is required from the Department in relation to the construction of a forestry road while an entirely separate consent is required from the local planning authority for an entrance from a forestry road on to a public road. Sinn Féin reads this to mean that the Department will now bear sole responsibility in respect of consent which means that the Minister will give consent for a private road to go on to a public road. We would like clarification on how this fits into the planning laws. As every elected representative knows, be they local councillors or Deputies, planning rules and regulations must be adhered to and any access to a public road requires planning permission. Is the Minister now saying that his Department will have the power to overrule these laws and allow a private forestry road access to a public road?

I look forward to hearing the Minister's response to the issues I have raised.