Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this Commencement matter. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, to the Seanad. I think this may be her first Commencement matter in the House so she is very welcome. We collaborated and worked well together on the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage. I wish the Minister of State well. It is an exciting and challenging time for any Minister. I know she will do it well and I hope she enjoys the fruitful time she will have in that Department.

I wish to raise the issue of Horse Racing Ireland's strategic plan from 2024 to 2028. This amazing and positive document is entitled Nurturing Success and Inspiring Participation. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Heydon, who is a Kildare man. He was at the launch of this strategy in Punchestown with Horse Racing Ireland and its management board. I know he is particularly committed to the horse racing sector as he would be as a Kildare man and as someone who lives and is a politician in the heartland of the equestrian world in Ireland.

The horse racing and breeding industry is one of our biggest success stories. We need to celebrate, embrace and constantly evaluate it. One of the things I particularly like about this strategy is that it sets out and analyses the strategic strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats faced by the industry. It takes on board the weaknesses, opportunities and, most importantly, threats to the industry. It is set out in a very strategic and analytical way for which I commend the board and management of Horse Racing Ireland.

The real underlying figure is the more than €2.5 billion that comes from this industry regarding the expansion of the economy by this industry. Sometimes we forget that. The horse racing strategy aims to protect, strengthen and sustain Ireland's global leading horse racing and breeding industry. The strategy plans and focuses strongly on two clear objectives to nurture successes and inspire participation.I will not go into the issue of Deloitte which did a review of the finances back in 2023. It is there, it is current and valid, and it very much endorses the strategy itself. The goal of HRI is to increase the industry up to €3 billion, which is an amazing ambition. Within the lifetime of the plan, HRI also aims to deliver the big capital projects and, importantly, provide a pipeline for the future human talent, which is really important in this industry. Under the new strategic plan, HRI wants the annual welfare budgets to increase by 70%, which is very important. It also wants investment in the governance and integrity and wants to advance welfare. I acknowledge that that is an important focus. It also has plans to develop a new campus at the old racing apprenticeship centre in Kildare. Overall, it is good news.

The strategic plan for 2024 to 2028 captures the ambition of HRI for the future progression of the industry which generates Ireland's fifth biggest agricultural export and sustains a very significant economic activity across this country and beyond. I commend the strategy, work and ambition of the HRI under the stewardship of its board of management and its chief executive, Suzanne Eade. It is a really good news story and it is important we get the message out. It also embraces the issue of regional and rural development and the rural economy - of course, it is also urban - and its significance for our economy but, most importantly, for our international reputation. As a country, Ireland is the envy of the equestrian world.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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Before I call the Minister of State, cuirim céad míle fáilte roimh na daltaí as Scoil Fhursa, cathair na Gaillimhe. Tá céad míle fáilte roimh gach duine. I hope they have a very pleasant day in Leinster House and to celebrate their visit, I hope they will get homework off tonight and tomorrow night. They have no homework tonight and the teachers need a break from the ceartúcháin.

I thank Senator Boyhan for informing us that this is the first visit of the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, to the Seanad for Commencement Matters.

Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I did not realise that homework was part of your powers, a Chathaoirligh. How interesting.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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Homework off.

Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I thank Senator Boyhan for his kind words and wishing me well. On behalf of the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, I thank the Senator for his submission and for giving us the chance to discuss this topic. As Senator Boyhan was elected on the agricultural panel, which obviously also includes fisheries, I know this is an area of huge interest and advocacy for him.

I am delighted to be able to confirm that Government policy is to ensure the horse racing industry achieves its maximum potential and, in doing so, contributes to economic and social development over a wide geographic distribution. The valuable contribution to a balanced regional economy made by the horse industry is well recognised and is a key priority of both the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, and the Minister of State, Deputy Heydon. Government funding, in addition to supporting this key industry, presents an excellent opportunity to yield a high return for its investment, leading to a flow of income through many levels of the economy, thereby providing widespread benefits for our society. This sector is also crucial in driving a geographically balanced economy throughout our country. The Senator referred to the regional and rural economy, and I fully agree.

The importance of this industry has been acknowledged by successive governments and it is supported through legislation and policy initiatives. The world-class reputation for excellence in horse racing and breeding that Ireland enjoys today has been enabled by the support provided through public funds. The Senator stated it is the envy of other countries and I fully agree.

The horse racing industry receives financial support from the State through the horse and greyhound racing fund, under section 12 of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001. Payments are made from the Fund to Horse Racing Ireland, HRI, and to Rásaíocht Con Éireann, RCE. The Estimates for the Department, passed by both Houses as part of budget 2024, include an allocation of €95 million for the horse and greyhound racing fund. This will be distributed in accordance with section 12(6) of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001, with 80%, €76 million, going to HRI and 20%, €19 million, to RCE. Exchequer support provided from the fund is crucial to the survival and continued development of the horse racing industry.

As the Senator mentioned, Deloitte conducted a report, which estimated that, in 2023, the Irish thoroughbred industry had an annual economic impact amounting to €2.46 billion, supporting direct and indirect jobs of some 30,000 people. Ireland is the second largest producer of bloodstock in the world by value sold, after the United States of America. Ireland also has the world’s third highest number of thoroughbreds foaled each year after the USA and Australia. The thoroughbred sector is a firm part of our identity. The value of Irish-foaled thoroughbreds sold at public auction in 2023 was €334 million. Horse racing generates a significant return to the rural economy in Ireland and a positive international profile for our country.

As the Senator mentioned, the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, and the Minister of State, Deputy Heydon, recently noted HRI’s Strategic Plan 2024-2028. They welcomed HRI’s drive to protect, build and sustain Ireland’s position as one of the leading racing and breeding nations of the world. The Minister, Deputy McConalogue, is glad to see that HRI’s ambition is to grow this figure further while also acting on its social responsibility to industry employees and expanding educational opportunities in the sector.

In November 2021, the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine, of which the Senator is a member, published a report on horse racing in Ireland. At the committee’s request, an international equine anti-doping expert was commissioned to conduct an independent review of the IHRB’s equine anti-doping programme. This review concluded that the programme does “at least match international best practice in most respects and has made significant advances in recent years”.

The Department and stakeholders want to ensure the highest standards of integrity and welfare are maintained and that is what the Government is committed to.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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Before I call Senator Boyhan, I welcome the second group from Scoil Fhursa in Galway. They are very welcome to Leinster House. I hope they have a very enjoyable day. Like their friends, colleagues and classmates, we will give them no homework tonight and tomorrow night in celebration of their visit to Leinster House.

Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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I thank the Minister of State for her very positive response. The key lies in rolling out the strategy. The horses owned, bred and trained in Ireland are the envy of the world. We can never take that position for granted. We always need to improve it. The sector recognises that we need to work on welfare issues. We need to work on the welfare of the jockeys and all the people in the bloodstock industry. We need to have a favourable economic and tax regime that supports this unique industry for Ireland. Let us never take it for granted. We need to continue to improve it. We need to deal with and analyse the strategy and the direction. Of course, every year we endorse the funding for this sector, and that funding is an important part of it. I thank the Minister of State, the Minister for agriculture and the Department for the very favourable response to this industry which is unique to Ireland.

Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Senator is absolutely right that our horse racing industry is the envy of the world and we cannot take that for granted. The rapidly changing international environment continues to pose challenges to the Irish economy. Coupled with Ireland being a small and open economy naturally prone to volatility, it can be somewhat difficult to fully predict what the future holds. That is why it is crucial we support this important industry and its continued navigation through the challenges in 2024. Given the wide geographic distribution of the horse racing and thoroughbred industry, it is fundamental to the achievement of a more balanced regional economic growth here in Ireland. Nurturing that and nurturing the rural economy is a key priority for Government in this context. The welfare of horses is a cornerstone of this valuable industry and the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, and the Minister of State, Deputy Heydon, are assured that the HRI and the IHRB are striving to ensure the highest standards for the sport and its participants on and away from the racecourse. As we have both said, this plays a key role in providing investment and we will continue to support it.