Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister. I have been impressed by the depth of knowledge of the Bill and the horse racing industry of the members of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture Food and the Marine. The contribution that surprised me was by Senator Mary Ann O'Brien as I had not realised she was so involved. She really shocked me because I had not thought she had been born early enough to even remember the Phoenix Park racecourse. I was aware of Senator Paul Bradford's knowledge of the breeding industry and no wonder he is asking the Minister about the fee for foals.

As mentioned by other Members, the Bill seeks to build on the Indecon report on certain aspects of the horse racing industry in Ireland. Its stated purpose is to strengthen governance and transparency within the administration of horse racing, to improve accountability and control over State funding in the sector, to clarify the respective functions of Horse Racing Ireland and the Racing Regulatory Body and to provide for the streamlining of certain administrative functions. The regulatory impact assessment of the Bill, published in May 2014, of the general scheme, identified two policy options that were being considered at the time, namely, to do nothing or to implement the recommendations made in the Indecon report. In the light of the industry statistics for the period from 2007 to 2011, the evident decline in the industry and the need to address issues that had the potential to enhance the governance issues and create efficiencies, the former was ruled out. The Bill is so good because of the consultation that took place and the people who attended the Oireachtas joint committee meetings.They included the Association of Irish Racehorse Owners, the Irish Stable Staff Association, the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association, the Irish Racehorse Trainers Association, the Irish Jockeys Association, the Irish Bookmakers Association, Horse Racing Ireland, Bord na gGon, the Association of Irish Racecourses, the Racegoers Consultative Forum, the Turf Club, the Irish national hunt steeplechase committee and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. I am delighted that a member of the Irish Stable Staff Association is now on the committee. People cannot say that there has been no consultation on this Bill. The consultation has been good, which is why the Bill is so good.

The Irish horse racing sector makes a significant contribution to Irish agriculture and this can be measured in terms of the economic value, employment and tourism it generates. The horse and greyhound industry receives Government support, which is provided under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund. I do not think people realise how valuable horse racing is to the country. It was estimated that the industry underpinned 14,000 jobs, €1.1 billion in economic output and a value of €205 million in exports to 37 countries worldwide. This is a significant contribution to the economy.

As this could be the Minister's last visit to this House as we are all expecting the Taoiseach to call an election soon, I compliment him on his attendance in this House over the past five years. He has always been on top of his brief when coming into this House. This legislation is based on research and consultation, which the Minister has always valued. I commend the Bill to the House and wish the Minister every success for the future.