asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the amount collected by Bord na gCon over the past three years from bookmakers' levies and from the tote.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Greyhound Industry.
7.
The amounts collected by Bord na gCon by way of levies on course betting with bookmakers and totalisator receipts were £804,628 in 1972 and £938,836 in 1973. The 1974 figures are not yet available.
8.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the amount given by Bord na gCon to dog owners by way of prize money over the past three years.
The amounts allocated by Bord na gCon for prize money were £233,167 in 1972 and £292,426 in 1973. The 1974 figures are not yet available.
9.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the names of the greyhound tracks purchased by Bord na gCon since their inception; the cost of each track; and the amount invested in each since its purchase.
As the reply is in the form of a tabular statement I propose with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to circulate it with the Official Report.
Following is the statement:
|
Name of Track |
Purchase Price |
Amount Invested |
|
£ |
£ |
|
|
Shelbourne Greyhound Stadium, Ltd. |
240,000 |
124,872 |
|
Cork Greyhound Race Co., Ltd. |
130,000 |
32 |
|
The Dublin Greyhound and Sports Association Ltd. (Harold's Cross) |
310,000 |
Nil |
|
Youghal Greyhound Race Co. Ltd. |
15,000 |
9,529 |
|
The Kingdom Greyhound Racing Co. Ltd. (Tralee) |
30,000 |
10,593 |
|
Clonmel Greyhound Racing Co. Ltd. |
91,000 |
Nil |
|
Waterford Greyhound Race Co. (1953) Ltd. |
4,000 |
Nil |
|
Limerick Greyhound Racing Track Ltd. |
80,000 |
Nil |
10.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the number and the names of greyhound tracks not in the ownership of Bord na gCon; and the amount subscribed by Bord na gCon to each such track by way of prize money and development.
As the reply is in the form of a tabular statement I propose with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle to circulate it with the Official Report. Following is the statement:
|
Name of Track |
Amount Subscribed |
|
£ |
|
|
Dundealgan Greyhound Racing Co. Ltd. |
223,548 |
|
Enniscorthy Greyhound Racing Co. Ltd. |
140,605 |
|
Galway Greyhound Racing Co. Ltd. |
83,193 |
|
Kilkenny Greyhound Racing Co. Ltd. |
117,747 |
|
Lifford Greyhound Racing Co. Ltd. |
151,354 |
|
Longford Sports Ltd. |
116,415 |
|
Mullingar Greyhound Racing Co. Ltd. |
151,307 |
|
The Boyne Valley Greyhound Racing Co. |
121,528 |
|
Newbridge Greyhound Racing Co. Ltd. |
109,943 |
|
Thurles Greyhound and Sports Association Ltd. |
135,318 |
11.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the names and addresses of the appeal committee appointed under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958; and if he will consider appointing a member of the bookmakers' profession to the committee.
The names and addresses of the members of the appeal committee are as follows:
Chairman: Judge Sean MacD. Fawsitt, Manch, Ballineen, Co. Cork.
Ordinary Members: Mr. P.J. Chambers, Parliament Street, Ennistymon, Co. Clare; Dr. W.E. Bennett, "Vista Ville", St. Francis Avenue, College Road, Cork.
The statutory five-year term of office of these members will not expire until the end of 1978.
Will the Minister not agree that it is about time a reappraisal was made of the internal workings of Bord na gCon, considering the Racing Board have subscribed practically 50 per cent of the takings by way of bookmakers' levies and totalisator receipts to further the bloodstock industry? From the figures given by the Minister, out of £804,000 they contributed £200,000, out of £900,000, they contributed nearly £300,000 and the 1974 figures are not yet available. Is it not time the Minister took a look at the internal workings of Bord na gCon in view of the fact that it is internally run by a Fianna Fáil junta?
Is this relevant to the question?
This is a long question.
I would not be allowed to ask that kind of question.
I am a member of a profession who know about this subject.
Is this——
I would not be allowed to make such a statement.
Order, please.
Is the Minister now prepared to consider that a representative of my profession should be on the appeals board in which——
I cannot allow the Deputy make a statement on the subject.
I want to let the Minister speak for himself. Is he not——
The Deputy must allow the Minister to answer.
I will abide by the Chair's ruling. I am the most amenable man in this House at times. I know what this is all about, not like the Fianna Fáil Members who know nothing.
On a point of order, Sir, I know all about public meetings and points of order and I will not take it from the Deputy——
They were all held in publichouses.
They were not.
Order, please.
I want to point out to the Minister that——
That is not in order. The Deputy must resume his seat. He must not continue to make a speech.
I was asked to give the names of the members of the appeal committee. I did that. Now Deputy Coughlan asks if I would not be prepared to appoint a member of the profession——
An honourable profession.
——of bookmakers. I have explained that the statutory five-year term of office of these members will not expire until 1978. It is not open to me to appoint an extra member. Therefore, I cannot solve that problem at this time.
Question No. 12.
Is it not fair and just that the Minister should reconsider my proposal? Since the inception of Bord na gCon there was a member of my profession on the board. Since the reconstitution of the board 12 months ago, my profession has been overlooked. We were overlooked on the appeal board. We have nobody——
The Deputy is again embarking on a speech.
Again I ask the Minister to reconsider. My profession is entitled to representation on the board.
I have a further note here which states that at no time was a member of the bookmakers' profession appointed and no member was ever appointed to represent a particular profession or interest on it.
Question No. 12.
I do not know where the Minister got his information.
The Deputy may not reply as such.
We had a member of my profession on the board since its inception. We have nobody on either board now.
I am calling Question No. 12.
I can only give the Deputy what I have in my notes. There is a statutory prohibition——
Arising out of the aspersions cast on the board, is it not correct that Bord na gCon is an honourable hard working body which has done an excellent job for the greyhound industry?
A lot Deputy Brennan knows about it. The Deputy should only speak on subjects he knows something about. I have been in this profession for 40 years——
Question No. 12.
I wish to raise the subject matter of this question on the Adjournment.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
(Interruptions.)