Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I extend my sympathy to the Murphy family on the passing of John A. Murphy and to Senator Paul Daly and his family on the passing of his father.

I am looking forward to the statements on Ukraine this evening. It is surreal to see what is unfolding across the world at the moment. I hope that we can be constructive in what we can do with sanctions. I put on record my praise for my colleague, Deputy Mairéad Farrell, in the Dáil. She has highlighted again the issue of section 110, and the €118 billion of Russian oligarchs' funding that has flowed through that section for the past 15 years.

At the top of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board's website is a clear statement, written in bold print, "Protecting the Integrity & Reputation of Irish Horseracing". The IHRB, formerly the Turf Club, is the regulatory arm of the sport in this country. It receives €10 million annually to perform this important duty, protecting the reputation and integrity of the so-called sport of kings in Ireland. This is a self-elected club that has been allowed to appoint its own regulatory directors. It receives €10 million each year in taxpayers' funding with little or no accountability. It has also refused for years to publish the salary of its chief executive, who abruptly resigned last year and has since not been replaced. I read, as I am sure many Senators have, the two substantial, apparently well-researched investigative articles written by Paul Kimmage for The Sunday Independent over the past two weekends. There has been plenty of rumour, innuendo and speculation prior to these articles being published about the possible use of illegal performance-enhancing drugs in Irish racing. The man who has bravely led the way in this regard is one of our most celebrated and famous horse trainers, a man of impeccable reputation, Jim Bolger.He has been castigated in many quarters for doing so in, from his own training colleagues to the racing press and the man on the street. However, he has also been applauded and supported by many others who know this man is to be trusted when he opens his mouth about such a serious matter. The key suggestion in Mr. Paul Kimmage's article is that the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board, IHRB, sought to discredit the trainer, Mr. Stephen Mahon, because of his prior claim as a whistleblower regarding the use of performance enhancing drugs in horseracing. After reading Mr. Kimmage's articles, I believe there are serious questions to be asked about the regulatory board because if any of this is proven to have some truth, there will be serious questions about the treatment of Mr. Mahon and his family. I have to ask the question: who is going to regulate the regulator?

Major concerns are being raised about the office of the governing body, the IHRB, in the Curragh, County Kildare, and the oldest sporting club in the world. It seems to be a closed shop funded by every one of us in this country who pays tax. I request a full independent inquiry into all affairs, activities, practices and appointments relating to the IHRB.