Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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652. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he was requested by persons in government or in a Department or NPHET to give his views on when horse racing should recommence here; if so, the way in which he was requested; if so, the person or persons that made the request; and his response to same. [7418/20]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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653. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he was requested by persons in government or in a Department or NPHET to give his views on when greyhound racing should recommence here; if so, the way in which he was requested; if so, the person or persons that made the request; and his response to same. [7419/20]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 652 and 653 together.

Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) is a commercial state body established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001, and is responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry. Similarly, Bord na gCon is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. Bord na gCon is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

On the 1^stMay 2020, the Taoiseach set out a roadmap for easing the Covid-19 restrictions, which began on Monday 18^thMay. The Government plans to reopen the economy and society in a slow and phased manner. The roadmap sets out five stages for unlocking restrictions, at three week intervals.

On publishing the Roadmap for the Reopening Society and Business, the Government stated an appetite to engage and consult with sectors on possible changes to the timings in the plan.

Through my Department, Horse Racing Ireland were fully engaged in this consultation process from the outset. I was fully supportive of this engagement. I would like to commend HRI and the Irish Horse Racing Regulatory Board for the protocols which they have developed, with the aim of safeguarding everyone's health and ensuring that racing will resume in a safe and appropriate manner.

My Department will now assist other sectors under its remit with their engagement in the same process where appropriate, bearing in mind at all times the pre-eminence of the protection of public health.

Bord na gCon are fully engaged with my Department on this matter.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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654. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason horse racing will be permitted from 8 June 2020 behind closed doors but greyhound racing will not be permitted; the difference between the industries; the risks found in greyhound racing that do not exist in horse racing to prevent the same treatment; the risk assessment that has been carried out to inform the decision; if the risk assessment will be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7455/20]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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657. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has received submissions from an association (details supplied) in relation to the reopening of greyhound racing; if he plans to proceed at the same pace as horse racing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7493/20]

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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667. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if greyhound racing will be permitted to return behind closed doors on the same date that horse racing is resuming behind closed doors from 8 June 2020 as per correspondence from an organisation (details supplied); and if he is reviewing same. [7675/20]

Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
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668. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the grounds on which the decision to allow horse racing to recommence earlier than initially planned was made; and if similar consideration will be given to other sports such as greyhound racing. [7713/20]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 654, 657, 667 and 668 together.

Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) is a commercial state body established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001, and is responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry. Similarly, Bord na gCon is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. Bord na gCon is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

On the 1^stMay 2020, the Taoiseach set out a roadmap for easing the Covid -19 restrictions, which began on Monday 18^thMay. The Government plans to reopen the economy and society in a slow and phased manner. The roadmap sets out five stages for unlocking restrictions, at three week intervals.

On publishing the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, the Government expressed a willingness to engage and consult with sectors on possible changes to the timings in the plan.

Through my Department, HRI was engaged in this consultation process from the outset and I was fully supportive of this engagement. I would like to commend HRI and the Irish Horse Racing Regulatory Board for the protocols which they have developed, with the aim of safeguarding everyone's health and ensuring that racing will resume in a safe and appropriate manner.

My Department will now assist other sectors under its remit with their engagement in the same process where appropriate, bearing in mind at all times the pre-eminence of the protection of public health.

Bord na gCon is fully engaged with my Department officials on this matter.