Paddy Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I raise the issue of the working hours of employees in the horse racing and horse-breeding industries. There was a time when the horse racing and horse-breeding industries were linked to agriculture under 1990s legislation that dealt with employees' working hours. That legislation was amended by the 2015 Act, but for some unknown reason the horse racing and horse-breeding industries were excluded from that. As a result, the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, is taking action against the horse-breeding and horse racing industries for the hours worked by their employees. It is only proper that the workers' pay and conditions are regulated, but we need a debate on the industry also. This is an industry that relies on flexibility. Horses have to be fed and watered seven days a week. They have to travel distances to get to race meetings across the Irish Sea, in France and elsewhere. It is an industry that requires a large degree of flexibility on the part of its workers. All the people working in the industry realise that the pay and conditions should be regulated.

I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, or the relevant Minister in terms of the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, to the House for a debate on this issue. If it is necessary to do so, I ask that the existing legislation be amended. I urge the Leader to ask the relevant Minister to ensure that nothing be done in the context of actions that may be taken by the WRC until amended legislation is put in place or until the Minister comes into the House for a proper debate on this industry, which is worth millions of euro to the economy and is a major employer. As I said, flexibility is needed. Every situation is different. There are large and small trainers and breeders. Every operation is different and every situation is different. A debate is urgently needed, but no action is required until we have that debate and until amended legislation is put in place.