Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank all Members for their contributions and positive engagement and for the general welcome and support they expressed for this legislation.

I share the anxiety and desire to get this legislation enacted as soon as possible, as I have done since I was given responsibility for the greyhound sector. I appreciate that the industry has a long and traditional connection with many urban and rural parts of the country. The industry is held dearly in the hearts of many communities. I have experienced the odd night of greyhound racing in my role as Minister of State and, therefore, I have witnessed the joy and ecstasy experienced by families and people from villages. Such joy, especially when the underdog wins, is something to behold.

Some Members have referenced operational issues and policies. Senator Lawlor referred to membership and I take the point made about the HRI. What we are trying to do is underpin the sector with modern fit-for-purpose legislation. Our ultimate aim is to have robust legislation to rebuild, and let us be honest that we must rebuild the reputation of the industry, so that one can have charitable events, engagement and, without fear or favour, promote the sector for fundraising and charity events in the knowledge that governance, integrity and welfare have all been dealt with comprehensively.

The strategic plan has been mentioned, which is important. Some people have a difficulty with the betting tax. If we are going to continue to increase both the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund then we must demonstrate that it is self-financing, which it more or less will be though that tax. It is not just those sectors that are supported by the betting tax, which will increase to the rate it was 12 or 15 years ago.

There has been a focus on the three issues of doping integrity, welfare and governance in the debate. All of them have been comprehensively dealt with in the Bill. We have taken a long time. There has been a lot of toing and froing with the Office of the Attorney General about some of the sanctions and penalties, and it took time to place some of the responsibilities of the board on a statutory footing.

Money is referenced because there are still powers and competence. Section 15 allows the board to delegate to the CEO certain functions in order that the board does not micromanage. The CEO must report back to the board at all times. I do not know the logistics of the board. It will be the first time that any chairman has ever to come before a board without the support of the officials. There is no precedent for that but I do not expect that will be the case.

Regarding board appointees and the chairman, every appointment must be approved through the PAS and candidates must have a certain competence. On Committee Stage, we can consider cross-representation. Based on my experience of the work done on the HRI legislation during pre-legislative scrutiny, we included in our recommendations at the time that the stable staff would have a nominee on the board. The recommendation was taken on board in the final draft of the legislation.

It is my ambition to have this legislation through both Houses before this session concludes. We have scheduled Committee Stage to be taken in the House next Tuesday when I will be happy to comprehensively deal with any amendments that are tabled. I appreciate the concerns expressed by Senator Grace O'Sullivan. I can deal with the whitelist. EU law determines all exports from the EU. We would certainly not support, in so far as our statute allows us, exporting to any countries that do not have welfare as a priority. However, we cannot control secondary exports where some country decides to export to another country that is not on a whitelist, if it were prepared. Such a situation is beyond our control. I ask the Senator to bear that in mind in respect of the limitations of this Bill in that general area.

I thank all of the Members again. In particular, I thank the members of the joint committee for the work that they did as part of pre-legislative scrutiny. In 2016, I was Chairman of that committee and we prepared a report on foot of hearings at that time. The process has been long but it has been worthwhile because the legislation will assist the industry in rebuilding its reputation, and becoming an industry one can be involved in or enjoy in the full knowledge that everything that needed to be taken care of in the context of welfare and integrity has been addressed and catered for.