James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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783. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if tailored Covid-19 support packages have been put in place to compensate on-course bookmakers that maintain stands at race tracks known as seniorities which are a form of premises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34540/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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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.

HRI has informed this Department that there are no immediate plans to provide assistance to on course bookmakers. The Board of HRI considers matters relating to the impact of Covid-19 on the industry as a whole on an ongoing basis.

The bookmakers' representative body is in regular dialogue with HRI and the Association of Irish Racecourses regarding matters of concern.

On course bookmakers are licensed annually by HRI and enter commercial arrangements with racecourses regarding their attendance at race meetings to carry out their business. Since their attendance at race meetings has not been permitted, those commercial arrangements have ceased.