Vincent P Martin (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator O'Loughlin for taking this initiative. I am aware at first hand of the love, care, connection and passion as well as the economic appreciation of horses and their welfare. The equine industry in Kildare is second to none. It is a world leader. As I said before, the horse or equine industry is to Kildare what Semple Stadium and Croke Park are to the GAA. It is the spiritual home. In Kildare we consolidate, build, and expand. We do not dismantle remove or decommission. To remove such an essential piece of infrastructure from Kildare would be as incongruous as removing vineyards from Bordeaux.

I appeal to the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to review this decision and prevent it from happening under his watch. It is not only about Kildare. Of course, I am a proud Kildare public representative, but 14,000 jobs are generated by the activities of Horse Sport Ireland and €816 million is generated. When we put this into perspective we see this is twice what the sheep industry generates. We have to look at this. There is an opportunity here, be it for Punchestown, which wold be a fantastic venue, or wherever, to put us as a world leader. It would be such a boost for tourism. It would build on the good work done already and it would represent a type of Abbotstown, the go-to place not only in Ireland but in the world for everything equine. It is a major opportunity. It is not once in a generation; it is a one time ever opportunity. I urge the Minister of State and the Government to look at this carefully.