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 1st May 2020, the Taoiseach set out a roadmap for easing the Covid -19 restrictions, which began on Monday 18th May. 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.
