Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate the Leas-Chathaoirleach too. It is good to see him in the Chair.

I first must apologise that the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, was unable to make it to the House today. I am happy to take this Commencement matter on the Minister's behalf.

Horse Racing Ireland, HRI, is a commercial State body established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001, and is responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry.

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board, IHRB, is the regulatory body for all horse racing in Ireland. The board is a company limited by guarantee. The Turf Club and the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee transferred their regulatory functions, together with related assets and liabilities, to the company under a business transfer agreement on 1 January 2018.

Under Section 12 of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001, my Department provides funding to HRI on an annual basis. My Department has allocated €76.8 million to HRI to assist the horse racing and wider thoroughbred industry in 2021. This is an increase of €9.6 million or 14% on the 2020 allocation of €67.2 million. HRI has informed me that it has never provided funding to pony racing as the sport does not fall within its remit, the equines involved are not thoroughbreds, and these meetings have not been recognised by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board, IHRB.

Horse Racing Ireland and the IHRB have indicated that they are in dialogue with the various pony racing organisations. The issue of pony racing was also discussed at a recent HRI board meeting. HRI and the IHRB are due to meet with representatives of pony racing organisations again in the coming weeks.

To date, HRI has had a number of virtual meetings with representatives of various pony racing organising committees around the country in response to requests for a closer and more formal relationship than exists at present. Such a relationship would involve some form of recognition by the IHRB, including the removal of the ban on attendance at pony racing for licensed individuals and some form of financial assistance through Horse Racing Ireland.

Before Covid-19, approximately 40 pony race meetings were held mainly between the months of June and September. The pony racing circuit has been a fruitful source of talented jockeys, as Senator Murphy has outlined. The Senator has named many of the famous jockeys who now grace the largest of international stages and who represent Ireland extremely well at Cheltenham and all of the big race meetings across the world. I accept that many of those riders started in pony racing. It is acknowledged that, historically, many top riders have had their first experience of race riding on the pony racing circuit.

The board of HRI has informed the Minister that discussions on the matter will continue, but it must be stated that ultimately pony racing is outside HRI's remit, which is confined to activities on authorised racecourses. Any involvement will be limited to a discussion and advisory role only.

I have attended pony racing in Dingle while there on a family holiday. I have seen the excitement and the enthusiasm of the people. I do not for one minute discount the passion that Senator Murphy has displayed on the matter. Pony racing has a long history where it has stood on its own two feet. This is always a challenge for such an organisation that has survived for such a long period, notwithstanding the role it has played in providing jockeys to us.

I very much welcome the engagement by HRI and the IHRB with the pony racing associations for the discussions and advisory support they can provide into the future.