John Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister to the House and I fully support the horse and greyhound fund. Both industries are exceptionally important to my own county of Waterford. I grew up next to Kilcohan Park greyhound track. It provides many jobs to those involved in the industry and it indirectly employs at race meets every single week young people who go to school and live in the locality. The same can be said for the Tramore races and the many fantastic trainers we have in Waterford, not least Henry de Bromhead who has been honoured on numerous occasions due to his exploits last season.

More than that, it is important to acknowledge the welfare issue. Universally, you will not find anybody who disagrees on the importance of animal welfare. I have seen first hand the people who are involved in both the greyhound industry and the horse racing industry and the care and love for the animals that are entrusted to their care. They take those responsibilities exceptionally seriously. Any suggestion to the contrary is disingenuous. These are two very valuable industries to this country. It is important we continue, as a Government and as a country, to support these industries. If people are going to come into this Chamber and elsewhere and talk down the industries and attempt to do a disservice to them, they need to be honest with the people who are employed in those industries and not talk out of both sides of their mouth on this issue.