Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 485: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the funding provided to the horse racing industry in each of the past five years; in view of the amount of public money going to this industry, whether he should have direct responsibility and jurisdiction in respect of standards operating in this industry on behalf of the taxpayer, in view of the fact that animals are used in competitions and shows, cultural or sporting events or activities, and where cruelty and maltreatment arise in this area he has no jurisdiction or ability to enforce proper standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13539/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) is a commercial state body established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001. HRI has a regulatory and developmental role in the thoroughbred industry and its broadly based functions are outlined in The Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001 (in addition to the functions assigned under The Irish Horse-racing Industry Act 1994). The Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund (the Fund) was established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001 for the purpose of giving support to horse and greyhound racing. The following amounts have been paid from the Fund to HRI since 2008:

Horse Racing Ireland must apply its funding in accordance with its remit as established under legislation.

Horse Racing Ireland is subject to annual audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General. In addition, it has outsourced its Internal Audit function, which operates in accordance with the framework of codes of best practice as set out in the Code of Practice on the Governance of State Bodies and which report directly to the company's Audit Committee.

In the first instance the keeper of the horse is primarily responsible for its welfare. The main statutes governing cruelty to all animals, including race horses, are the Protection of Animals Act 1911 and the Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act, 1965. Responsibility for enforcing this legislation rests with An Garda Síochána. The Programme for Government 2011 contains a commitment to strengthen legislation relating to the welfare of all animals. The main vehicle to fulfil this commitment will be the Animal Health and Welfare Bill which I intend to introduce shortly. This Bill, which consolidates and updates existing legislation in the area of animal welfare, will ensure that all animals, including animals currently used in sporting events which currently fall outside the scope of my Department's responsibility, are protected and that the penalties for offenders are proportionate to the offence.