I welcome the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Deputy Joe Walsh, to the House.
Horse Racing Ireland (Membership) Bill, 2001: Second Stage.
Question proposed: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time."
Thank you, a Chathaoirligh. I am pleased to be here to debate the Horse Racing Ireland (Membership) Bill, 2001, which, essentially, proposes to amend the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001, in order to increase the number of ordinary members of the board of Horse Racing Ireland from 12 to 13.
As the House will be aware, the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001, was enacted in July last. It provided, among other matters, for the establishment of a new body, Horse Racing Ireland, HRI, to replace the Irish Horse Racing Authority and take over certain functions from the Racing Regulatory Body.
I am glad to say that since the legislation was passed it has been widely welcomed across all sectors of the industry. However, one problem has arisen in relation to the detailed provisions of paragraph 16 of the Schedule to the Act relating to the composition of the board of HRI.
Under the Act, the Racing Regulatory Body has five seats on the board of Horse Racing Ireland while the racecourses, racehorse owners, trainers, breeders, bookmakers, employees and the sector in Northern Ireland have one seat each. This composition was decided on to reflect fair representation for all major sectors in the industry which depend on horse racing for their livelihoods.
The ICTU has been the nominating body for the representative of persons employed in the horse racing industry on the board of the Irish Horse Racing Authority since its establishment in 1994 and its nominee has served the industry very well during the years. However, I was anxious this time, especially in the light of representations made to me, to give an opportunity to those who work directly with horses but might not be affiliated to that organisation to serve on the board. Stable staff had not previously been represented on any of the decision-making fora in Irish racing and given their important and essential, although often forgotten, role in this business, I believed the time was right to give them such representation and appointed a representative of theirs to the HRI interim board.
I have since received strong representations from the ICTU, MANDATE and SIPTU that a nominee of theirs should have been appointed to represent the persons employed in the industry on the basis that they represent the majority of employees in the sector. They have indicated that they are prepared to take legal action in pursuit of their case on this issue.
The trade unions represent thousands of administrative, technical, official and professional staff directly employed in the horse racing industry whose work is fundamental to the success that Irish racing has achieved in recent years. I pay tribute again to their representative on the IHA who has served with dedication and made a tremendous contribution to the work of the board. In consideration of this and as a reflection of the value the Government places on partnership with trade unions I wish to accede to their request. However, I remain strongly of the view that there should be a place on the board for key people like stable staff who make a particularly unique contribution to the horse racing industry. We should give them a well deserved say in the future of Irish racing and I am satisfied the sector would be better off for it.
In order to resolve this issue I propose to regard the ICTU as the nominating body for the persons employed in the industry. I propose to amend the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001, by increasing the number of board members by one to allow a representative of those employed directly in the horse racing industry, on this occasion stable staff, to be appointed to the board also. I am proposing that this should be done by direct ministerial appointment.
We had a very useful debate on the Bill in the Dáil earlier today and also earlier this year in both in the Dáil and Seanad. As always on this subject, the statements and points made in the House were not only interesting but were constructive and furthermore showed a great depth of knowledge of and commitment to the future of Irish racing.
Deputy Dukes tabled an amendment seeking to have a place on the board for a representative of racegoers. I opposed the amendment for two main reasons. First, the greatest representation racegoers could get on the board would be one seat out of 14 or 15. In 1994, when the IHA was established, this did not satisfy either punters or racegoers clubs. Furthermore, HRI is required under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001, to establish and maintain a racegoers consultative forum to cater for the needs of those who would not have direct representation on the board. This will allow for a wide selection of the different groupings and views involved among racegoers to come together to debate issues of direct relevance to them and make recommendations on them. Under section 9(5) of the Act HRI is required to have regard to any opinions expressed by the forum. On that basis I expect that the interests of racegoers will be given wider and better overall representation in discussions on the matters which most affect them than if they had a seat on the board.
Turning to the detailed provisions of the Bill, as it stands, the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001, provides for the appointment of a board consisting of a chairman and 12 ordinary members. The Bill proposes to increase the number of ordinary members of the board of Horse Racing Ireland from 12 to 13, with the additional member to be appointed by the Minister.
There are some other minor amendments. As the establishment day order for HRI has not yet been made, it is necessary, in order to give effect to these changes, to replace paragraph 16 of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001, in its entirety. It contained all the amendments in the 2001 Act to the original Schedule of the Irish Horseracing Industry Act, 1994. The Bill is proposing to restate those amendments with pro vision this time for an extra board member and some further associated changes. However, most of the provisions of the Schedule to the 1994 Act, as amended by paragraph 16 of the 2001 Act, remain unchanged.
Subsection (1)(a) of section 1 of the Bill increases the number of ordinary members of HRI from 12 to 13. The main changes consequential on the increase in board membership are contained in subparagraphs (1)(c), (d) and (e) of a new paragraph 7 to the 1994 Act Schedule to be inserted by subsection (1)(b) of section 1 of the Bill.
Subparagraph (1)(c) of the new paragraph 7 removes the nomination of the trade union's representative from the requirement that such nominee had to be elected in similar fashion to the other industry interests. The new provision will allow a nominee to be selected using a consultative process within the ICTU involving all the unions rather than an electoral one.
Subparagraph (1)(d) provides for the direct appointment by the Minister of one person from persons employed directly in the horse racing industry, thereby allowing employees such as stable staff, who play a key role in the industry, to be represented on HRI.
Subparagraph (1)(e) also removes the nomination of the representative of horse racing in Northern Ireland from the election requirement and provides that such member of HRI will be appointed directly by the Minister after consultation with horse racing interests in Northern Ireland.
There are no other changes of substance. Subsections (1)(c) and (d) of section 1 contain provisions which remain unchanged from the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001. Subsection (2) of section 1 repeals paragraph 16 of the Schedule to the Act of 2001. Subsection (3) of section 1 provides that subsection (1) shall come into operation – if Members are not confused at this stage, they have a tremendous degree of concentration – on the same establishment day as provided for in the 2001 Act in order that the provisions of that Act relating to the establishment of HRI and the Bill will come into effect at the same time. Subsection (4) of section 1 provides a definition and section 2 provides a short title for the Bill when enacted.
I welcome the Minister to the House and echo what Senator Manning said with regard to the Bill, that we have no difficulty with it and know that everything is above board. When the Leader offered the opportunity to speak for ten or 12 minutes I was not quite sure whether we were going to use the proper parlance, whether this was a five furlong or a three miles and four furlong race. I, therefore, intend to try to keep it as a sprint if I can. I noted the rate at which the Minister went through his speech. If he was a horse, no doubt he would have come in first.
He would be unsaddled.
I welcome the changes the Minister is providing for in the Bill to ensure there is representation as requested by the ICTU, MANDATE and SIPTU, for the basic and essential element of horse racing. I am glad that the Minister has acceded to their request, even if under pressure of threatened legal action by the trade unions.
The people concerned are the unsung heroes. Having some knowledge about the work stable staff must do, their hours of work and the weather in which they must do it, I know they are extraordinary people who are dedicated to their sport and generally have a great affection and love for the horse. Otherwise one would not get anybody to do it, considering their rates of pay and the conditions under which they work, but for them to have a representative on the newly established board is worthwhile.
I also echo what Deputy Dukes stated in the Lower House, that there should be a member on the board representing the ordinary citizen who likes to go racing. The racing industry would not survive without these ordinary punters who attend meetings like the Galway Races, which I highly recommend. People should go there and spend as much as they can.
Summer or autumn.
These are the people who keep racing going. It is not politically correct to refer to housewives putting a pin on a name, but ladies who have no interest in racing for most of the year like to go to a course with good facilities where they can relax and not get soaked. It is great to see racecourses around the country improving their facilities to provide for those who are not as hardy as those of us who go on a bad day and back bad horses.
I echo the Minister's praise for the IHRA's work over many years. We wish the new board well and hope to see it in its new headquarters in a few years and we look forward to a better industry at the end of this process. Ireland is at the forefront of the worldwide racing industry with its high quality horses and trainers. Horses are being kept at home which previously might have been exported because we could not afford to keep them. It is great to see us on that main stage, not merely challenging richer countries but coming out continuously as winners. I commend the Bill and thank the Minister.
There is no queue on this side to speak. It must be the Christmas spirit.
We expect someone from the Curragh to talk about racing.
I welcome the Minister and this non-contentious Bill which should pass quickly. My constituency colleagues, Deputies Wall and Dukes, both spoke in the other House but I do not know what they said.
They welcomed the Bill.
I am sure they did.
They were very supportive.
I am more concerned about some other aspects.
I congratulate Brian Kavanagh on being appointed chief executive of Horse Racing Ireland. His record in the Curragh racecourse is very good and he will bring fine qualities to bear in his new position. I also welcome the provision including stable staff on the board. It would not be inaccurate to say they are at the manure end of the business. They work long hours and, in the past, were not very well paid. Their pay is still modest by relative standards in other industries. They obviously do the job for the love of the game and for love of being with horses. Many of them are young people from towns like Newbridge, Kildare and other areas around the Curragh, where I live.
Rathangan.
I thank the Leader for reminding me. I could go on and mention Monasterevin and other places but I will resist the temptation. It is extraordinary that some of those young people will get out of bed very early in the morning at difficult times of the year to work very hard for long hours. They are a vital element in the industry and it is good to see that recognised by their proposed inclusion on the board. The nominating procedure for which the Minister has provided in the Bill is a reasonable and equitable way of achieving this.
While it is desirable that people would become members by election, the practicalities involved make this impossible. It is an attractive proposition but its practical operation would prove very difficult. The type of model we have in other agricultural boards, such as the IFA sending a panel of names to the Minister for selection, is reasonable and quite democratic, as the organisations themselves are quite democratic. This is a sensible proposal, particularly in terms of the Northern Ireland nomination as the election there could make matters difficult. There may not be a great number of people involved and it is reasonable that the Minister would have the power of direct appointment following consultation with horseracing interests. That consultation is the important aspect.
Perhaps the Minister would address the adverse publicity, notably in The Phoenix, which has been carrying ongoing coverage of what it perceives as a row between the Turf Club and what was then the IHRA. There was a suggestion that the increase in the board's membership disturbed the balance of the agreement the Minister had reached with the Turf Club. I do not have a view one way or the other but perhaps the Minister will comment on it.
There are a couple of issues regarding some small errors in the original Bill. We seemed to have a horseracing Bill on an annual basis which I welcomed but now it appears to be a six-monthly occurrence. I hope the Minister or whoever may succeed him in the current Administration will be back to introduce the next Bill.
I would go along with some of that but not all of it.
In passing, I salute the achievements of Aidan O'Brien in horseracing during the year.
Hear, hear.
What he did was remarkable and gave the lie to the image – which I am not saying is accurate – of some of those in the horseracing industry, that they can be hard and not always pleasant. I wish the Minister the compliments of the season and hope he enjoys the agri-aware day in Leopardstown after Christmas.
In keeping with the spirit that has settled on the House, I welcome the Minister. One must acknowledge the good the Minister has done for racing since taking office. His direction is recognised throughout the country and I commend him for that.
This Bill is a welcome change and it is right to have stable boys and girls represented on the board. Trade unions have sought representation but that purpose is met, by and large. We support what the Minister is doing there.
The Minister uses his good offices well, no matter what the challenge. Senator Dardis referred to Ireland's achievements in racing and RTÉ could devote more coverage to both horseracing and greyhound racing in Ireland. Some 1 million people go to the dogs during the year and approximately 1.5 million go to race meetings but many people at home, particularly the elderly, would enjoy seeing the events. The Minister should do what he can to get RTÉ to give more coverage to those sports.
I wish the Cathaoirleach, the Minister and the staff a happy Christmas. We were here until 4 a.m. the other night and we will not do that now.
I wish the Minister the compliments of the season and congratulate him on his work in this and other fields during the year. I am pleased the Minister has been able to recognise the importance of maintaining links with the horse racing industry in Northern Ireland. There has never been a Border in any real sense as far as this group is concerned. These people have a contribution to make and it is important to keep them in the main stream. The Minister has proposed an appropriate method for securing that representation and it is right that he should consult with these interests and make his own appointment or nomination. This approach, for which I thank the Minister, will be very gratifying to my friends in the horse racing business in Northern Ireland.
I welcome the Minister and support the Bill. I agree with previous speakers as regards the acknowledgement of the sector proposed in the legislation. I commend the Minister and the Government for their work in creating a major tourism attraction and state-of-the-art facility at Kilbeggan racecourse. The midlands is the hidden Ireland as far as tourism is concerned. However, the planning, foresight, work and personal interest which the Minister has taken in Kilbeggan has brought a new brand of tourism to the midlands from April until October. This facility is a new experience for what had been a quiet area and has generated thousands of pounds for those involved in the tourism industry in the region.
I also commend the Minister and the Department for their wonderful work regarding the foot and mouth disease which placed a massive burden on their shoulders. Hundreds of families acknowledged and prayed for the decisions made by the Minister and his special committee. These decisions protected the country which would have gone to rack and ruin if foot and mouth disease had taken hold.
I congratulate Aidan O'Brien who is a wonderful example to young people thinking of becoming involved in a difficult, risky industry. He has become a national and international figure and is a great ambassador for the young, new Ireland.
I agree with Senator Callanan's comments on better coverage and compliment TG4 on its decision to broadcast items of local interest. We all watched its coverage of the all-Ireland series and its programmes on past all-Ireland champions. The station is also doing good work regarding the GAA county and provincial championships and its broadcasts of rugby matches and other sports have been magnificent. It is now possible to view horse and dog racing on a Saturday night. A new deal has been agreed with a large organisation to enhance this coverage.
I also thank the Minister for his assistance regarding Mullingar greyhound stadium which is a magnificent facility. Senator Coogan pointed out that one does not have to be interested in the sport to enjoy race meetings as one can visit the state-of-the-art restaurant and other facilities on offer. This is a family attraction and long may it continue. I congratulate all concerned.
I welcome the Minister and support this Bill. The main provision of the Bill concerns the nominees of the trade union movement and those who work in the industry, partic ularly the stable staff association which has been represented on the interim HRI.
The commitment of those who work in stables is almost without equal. I came across proof of this almost 30 years ago when Black and Decker established operations on the edge of the Curragh. At that time those employed in stables in the area could earn about £50 per week, but Black and Decker was offering £150 per week. A number of stable workers took employment with Black and Decker, but within six months they had all returned to the industry they loved. This was concrete proof of their commitment to the horse racing industry.
I salute the Minister, Deputy Walsh, and the Minister for Finance, Deputy McCreevy, for their work in this area. There is great enthusiasm for the future in the thoroughbred county. The racing and bloodstock industries have never been as enthusiastic about the future as they are after four years of this Government and the major initiatives it has taken in this sector.
I pay tribute to the Minister for his outstanding leadership during the foot and mouth disease crisis. We have seldom faced such a major challenge and rarely have we seen such effective, practical leadership as was shown by the Minister. As a practising farmer, though I do not get much opportunity to do so since becoming a Member of this House, I express personal appreciation to the Minister and the staff of the Department for their exceptional work on our behalf.
I thank Senators for their constructive, positive and helpful contributions to this debate. It is fitting for Ireland that we have such a knowledgeable debate as the horse and greyhound racing industries are part of what we are. Every parish has experience of these industries. Many of those involved are relatively small operators, though those at the upper echelons might receive more publicity.
A total of 1.35 million people attend horse racing meetings every year and one million attend greyhound racing meetings. Senator Maurice Hayes pointed out that there are no borders or boundaries in this industry. For quite a number of years I have been engaged with the RDS in Dublin and with Balmoral, Down Royal and Downpatrick in Northern Ireland, all of which are attended by people who love the sport and the industry.
On the old IHRA I was happy to ensure that the industry in Northern Ireland was represented, as it will be on the new body. This will take place in consultation with the Department and the industry in Northern Ireland. The current representative is John Kidd who is chairman of the industry in Northern Ireland and he is an appropriate appointee.
The greyhound industry is represented by someone from Bord na gCon. The name of that body may have thrown a few people from time to time – the Irish Greyhound Board might have been a more suitable name. However, things have worked out well. People in Northern Ireland are also very interested in dogs.
I appreciate what has been said about foot and mouth disease. The racing industry, the IRFU, the GAA and many voluntary bodies informed me that they would cease activities if I wanted them to do so. The racing industry put a stop to all activities and its members did not travel to Cheltenham.
The sheep farmers on the Curragh did not do so.
The Senator is 100% correct. I appreciate what has been done by those involved in the horse and greyhound industries. Many individuals gave up on disinfectant mats but they are still in place at the Curragh, Harold's Cross, Shelbourne Park and the RDS. There are no divisions among those involved in these industries.
I was pleased to hear positive arguments being put forward in respect of stable staff. I have visited many racecourses over the years and I know that these people were neglected. On many occasions, they would leave Kildare early in the morning to travel to Listowel, Galway and other racecourses and be there on time. When they arrived, they would invariably be obliged to change their clothes in horse boxes. If they went to get a hot bowl of soup or something to eat, they would find that the restaurant was unfortunately occupied by people who believed themselves to be more important than stable staff or the people who handle horses. When the race they were attending was over, they had to return to the trainer's establishment and prepare a group of horses for the following day. Representatives of the stable staff have been appointed to the interim board at the new facility in Punchestown and also at Limerick. I am aware that the situation has been improved at the Curragh by the provision of a small canteen where people can get a hot bowl of soup or something to eat. Up to now, such facilities were not provided.
Perhaps the Minister might encourage the board at Punchestown to do more.
That is a local matter.
The Minister is not holding a clinic here.
We have introduced this technical amendment because the unions – SIPTU and MANDATE – and congress wanted a representative on the board of Horse Racing Ireland. Representations were made to me because they felt they were entitled to a place on the board, regardless of the fact that there was a representative of the lowest grade of worker in the industry on it. In the interests of partnership – which is the way Governments, in tandem with the unions, the workers and everyone else, have been operating for the past decade – and goodwill I acceded to their request to have a representative of congress on the board. That is the purpose of the Bill.
Senator Coogan referred to racegoers, who keep the industry going and create an enjoyable atmosphere at race meetings. I have put in place a racegoers consultative forum, which is the appropriate way to give them a voice. HRI will be appointed in the very near future. I hope the people appointed to it will become the board of directors for the industry and that they will not take the approach that they will only speak for the sector they represent. That is the wrong way to proceed. The members of the board must take a more universal approach. Horseracing is a valuable industry and is responsible for promoting a positive image of Ireland overseas. I was at a race meeting at Belmont Park recently and it was great to see Irish horses performing so well there.
Aidan O'Brien, who was mentioned by a number of speakers, has won 23 group one races which is a world record. He is recognised as a world-class practitioner in his particular field. There are few enough areas in which we have such performers. In greyhound racing, we have Paul Hennessy whose achievements are recognised across the globe.
HRI should be given the opportunity to draw up development plans for the next five and ten years. When horses and dogs are finished racing they should be looked after properly. Animal welfare is extremely important and I have made that known to both bodies. I am sure action will be taken in this regard.
Senator Dardis referred to adverse publicity, to which I am almost immune at this stage.
I would not describe it as adverse.
I would describe it as being a little unhelpful. Senator Callanan referred to RTÉ coverage, etc. General coverage of sport in Ireland is extremely good. However, coverage of horseracing is minimal. I often listen to races from Hungry Hill on the Beara Peninsula or, if I am at home, I watch them on Channel 4. RTÉ is not covering as many races as I would like it to cover. If the station showed a highlights programme at weekends, it would be a start. RTÉ must take account of the number of people who attend race meetings, the number employed in the industry and the fact that horseracing is an international sport.
I recently welcomed Senator Hayes to University College Cork, which is situated in the real capital of Ireland. UCC is a beautiful institution and I know the Senator had an opportunity to view the tremendous gothic architecture of some of the buildings. He and I had a delightful discussion about black pudding.
A new race track is going to be built there.
I staunchly argued that Clonakilty black pudding is the best in the country.
Surely it is the best in the world.
Senator Hayes blinded me with the science involved in the making of black pudding. I appreciate the Senator's contribution to the debate, particularly in view of the fact that this is an all-Ireland sport and industry.
Senator Cassidy referred to Kilbeggan, which is unique in that only national hunt races are run there. I will tell Members a funny story about flat racing and national hunt racing. I launched a book recently on Martin Maloney who was a very good jockey. He began racing in 1939 and in 1951, when only 26 years of age, he was forced to retire when he was seriously injured. We should appreciate the great sacrifices made by jockeys who take their lives in their hands each time they ride and are sometimes badly injured. At the launch of the book, I was lauding Martin's prowess in the sport and noting the fact that on one occasion he was champion jockey in Ireland and only five wins short of being champion jockey in England. When one realises that he used to travel across the Irish Sea on the mail boat because there were no private jets or helicopters in those days, one can appreciate his marvellous achievement. However, what intrigued me was that he rode on in both flat and national hunt races.
Members will be aware that a flat jockey weighs between eight stone seven pounds and eight stone 12 pounds, while a national hunt jockey weighs about 12 stone seven pounds. I asked him how he managed to cope and he said: "The scales were a bit different in our day. We did not have digitalisation in those days." I informed him that I knew exactly what he was talking about because I used to be involved in the creamery business where the old scales were also employed. The needle on the scale used to wave around a little and in case a farmer's produce might tip the upper end of it, it was always turned sideways to give the creamery the advantage. I apologise if I have strayed somewhat from the substance of the Bill.
On a point of information, is the Minister in a position to inform me whether Kilbeggan is the only racecourse in Ireland at which a horse actually drowned or is it the case, as some people say, that it committed suicide?
I am now going to stray down to Dingle. Senator Tom Fitzgerald informed me about certain happenings at the racecourse there. Races are held close to the seashore in Dingle. I do not know about drownings, but there have been a number of very interesting incidents there. Some of the activities there include getting rid of the excess polish used to disguise the markings on horses.
Kilbeggan is a wonderful racecourse facility where record national hunt meetings take place. The operation is crowned by the local directors who attract great sponsorship. I am glad the Senator mentioned Mullingar where a wonderful job has been done for greyhound racing. The track is a great centre for the sport and I understand that since its refurbishment it is outpacing all other tracks as regards the percentage increase in Tote takings and attendances. It goes to show that if such facilities are improved, a wider attendance will be attracted.
Senator Ó Fearghail made a constructive contribution, as would be expected from a Kildare-based Member. He commented on the experience of foot and mouth disease which, thankfully, was kept at bay. We were lucky because the one outbreak we had happened to be in a peninsula which could be contained there. If we had been unfortunate enough to experience an outbreak of foot and mouth in Tipperary or another central area of the country, it would have been far more difficult to contain the disease. Nonetheless, we were tried well enough with stray calves and various other matters in some parts of the country but, thank God, we escaped the worst effects.
I much appreciate the constructive contributions of Senators and the seasonal spirit in which they were made. Senator Dardis mentioned our revisitation of horse and dog legislation every six or 12 months, but it is not my intention to revisit this particular Bill at any time in the foreseeable future.
On behalf of the Government, I wish you, a Chathaoirligh, and all the other Members of the House, and the staff of Seanad Éireann, a happy, holy, peaceful and accident-free Christmas. I hope they will enjoy good racing, either in Leopardstown or Limerick.
Earlier in the debate, I did not mention Vincent or Val O'Brien because I thought that if they were not in the House I was not allowed to do so. I wish to mention them, however, and others who have given the racing industry some great times.
As I do not want anybody to think that I am churlish, I also wish to commend the role played by the Minister and his staff in preventing the spread of foot and mouth disease. I have an abiding memory of one Saturday when, at 6.45 a.m., the Minister was heading back to work after a meeting with me. He told me he would be doing the same thing the following day also. His dedication is to be highly recommended.
Question put and agreed to.
When is it proposed to take Committee Stage?
Now.
Agreed to take Committee Stage now.