Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister to the House. This is a multi-million euro fund for horse and greyhound racing, which should carry conditions in terms of corporate governance. We have not discussed corporate governance and the conditionality around animal welfare during this debate. There is much merit in what is proposed in many of the amendments. There has been a lot of debate on all sides about the recurring theme of animal welfare.

I thank Senator O'Reilly, who was courageous, brave, forthright and honest in her contribution. At the end of the day, it is a tripartite Government. The Government coalition budget in 2023 agreed, in principle, for €91 million to be allocated to the fund. It is now proposed by the Minister to allocate €72.8 million of this to HRI and €18.2 million to the IGB. That is a decision that was made by the Government, and agreed and voted on. The people in question know who they are.

As the Minister said, the Oireachtas has approved a process of allocation by regulation which, in some ways, is technically different from the general estimated allocation of his Department. If I was to make one ask, it would be that the Minister include specific requirements on corporate governance and animal welfare in his letter on parameters. As the Minister will know, a parameters letter is issued by him after the approval. I am aware of the letter he issued last year. The Minister might confirm he has the scope within his parameters letter to issue certain conditions relating to funding. I ask him to reflect on the contributions here today and consider incorporating very strong language, guidance and conditions regarding animal welfare and corporate governance. As we know in another sporting industry, Horse Sport Ireland, there are issues around governance.

The Minister has been a great promoter of the working together animal welfare policy, a copy of which I have here. I ask that the Minister agree early in the new year to facilitate a debate on animal welfare, based on delivery of the key objective of the working together animal welfare policy. The Minister is committed to the policy and has spoken many times in the Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

I ask the Minister give due consideration to the items discussed in the motion, as well as animal welfare and corporate governance, and use his functions and powers to stipulate, in his parameters letter, strict guidance on animal welfare and corporate governance. They are critically important and I would be interested in hearing about that in the Minister's response.