Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Members for their contributions. In order to allow the payment to go through it is necessary to comply with the technical requirements of section 12 of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act. It is achieved by way of regulations submitted to both Houses and then approved.I have no axe to grind. I keep a few sport horses, but not thoroughbreds or greyhounds. I am not directly involved in the industry.

During the last Dáil, the committee which, as Senator Landy said, I chaired dealt with the pre-legislative scrutiny on the Horse Racing Ireland Bill. The industry was thoroughly examined by the committee. There are a couple of salient facts. As a result of the committee's considerations and deliberations, and following its recommendation, staff were allocated a position on the sub-committee in order that they could have a voice on the board of HRI.

The vast majority of thoroughbred and non-thoroughbred mares are owned by people with four mares or fewer. Major sheikhs or multinationals are not involved. The vast majority of stallions are in yards with no more than two stallions. Those are the facts.

As has been said, the industry has attracted 80,000 visitors from overseas, primarily for horse racing rather than greyhound racing. It is considered a sport that brings in a lot of revenue. The industry is thriving in some areas of the country. It provides significant rural employment, and if there are issues around the conditions of some employees, that needs to be addressed under employment law.

Nobody would ever say that greyhound racing was an elitist activity; it is anything but. The demographic spread of greyhound owners and breeders shows that people do not need to have a large amount of money or resources at their disposal. They require resources to transport and keep animals to a certain standard on registered premises. It is quite simple. The new legislation will deal with governance, regulation, integrity and improving the reputation of the sector. Other legislation concerning animal health and welfare is already in place, which can deal with many of the alleged and perceived problems that exist in the sector.

It is important that we examine the €80 million that will be allocated under the horse and greyhound racing fund and the revenue that is generated. More important than that is how we can fine tune and develop other aspects of the sector.

I agree entirely with Senator Mulherin about the gambling control Bill. I have been an advocate for it since it was first introduced by the former Minister, Alan Shatter, as a White Paper. The betting tax Bill will provide us with an opportunity to increase betting tax as long as we can capture it and not put some indigenous people involved in the bookmaking industry at a disadvantage. That is the trick.

Eventually, the net cost of the fund should be zero. In other words, the revenue returned to the Exchequer through taxes such as betting tax would equate to the amount of money that is given out. Money comes in to the Exchequer and is dished out through different Votes to various Departments. That is what we are trying to do here today. I appreciate that €7 million would provide rural transport, but the industry is primed, through the €80 million fund, to bring in revenue to the State to allow us to consider all of the other options.