Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister to the House and I support this motion. As we have heard, horse and greyhound funding is controversial. I understand and appreciate the sentiments of some of my colleagues. It is important, however, to put this debate in context. Sport Ireland has allocated €85 million for sport in our country, which all of us herald, promote and support. We are announcing funding today for the greyhound and horse industry which provides jobs, support and enjoyment. Many of us have an interest in this area, and I was the part owner of a greyhound several times. Senator Paul Daly is right. Those of us who own or have owned animals are concerned about their welfare during and after racing.

I would like if in the debate we would not divide and conquer but base this on real facts. In some parts, we are basing this debate on a programme which revealed activities which none of us would condone. A rogue element, a minority, was involved and we condemn it out of hand. I agree with Senator Paul Daly regarding the points made by Senator O'Reilly. They were well made. Let us, however, ensure that we recognise the 50% increase which the Government has included in budget 2021 for animal welfare, allied to the work of Greyhound Racing Ireland on traceability and animal welfare to support the industry.

Senator Boylan is correct that there is a fundamental difficulty, and that is why the Indecon report was published. If we read that report, it states that in Great Britain, New Zealand, Western Australia and New South Wales over the past decade there has been a decline in greyhound racing. The Senator is correct about that and I completely concur with her in this regard.

The issue of animal welfare is one which we, universally, must tackle. We should not, however, demonise the industry in respect of the actions of rogue elements. That is the fundamental point. I also commend councillors Eileen Lynch and David McManus for their work on greyhound welfare.

I ask members of the House to stand on the Curragh on Derby day, go to Cheltenham on Gold Cup day or over to Melbourne or Kentucky and look at the acclaim which the Irish horse receives in those places. I refer to breeding, competitiveness and winning, and our jockeys with them. Are we saying, to an element, that we want to get rid of all that? I hope we do not. The Indecon report on the greyhound industry recommended root and branch reform. I am speaking in the context of the Cork and Youghal tracks. I hope it will be part of the Minister's remit to allow us to look at how we can transform, in a post-Covid world, or a new world with Covid, the use of those tracks in Cork and Youghal. I refer to promoting them and using them for conferences in order that they can become income and revenue generators for the greyhound industry.

I will finish by saying to those who have said there has been no change that they need to look at the whole issue around animal welfare. There is the halfway house scheme, the rehoming programme, the financial incentive for the rehoming of greyhounds, the foster-to-adopt scheme, the track financial support scheme, the confidential phone line that people can use regarding welfare issues and the injury at tracks support scheme.An education allowance is being given and there is a code of practice for the care and welfare of greyhounds. All these are being implemented, and as Senator Daly mentioned, the traceability element must be pursued to its finish.

I invite all Members in the House who are opposed to this motion to go to Coolmore to speak with the owners of horses, and to speak with the owners of greyhounds, to see what it really means to us all. Please do that and let us not demonise one another. This is a very important industry that our country requires. We will make changes and we have made changes.