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Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine to discuss Horse and Greyhound Fund and Nitrates Action Programme with Minister McConalogue

24 Nov 2021, 10:55

The Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine will meet this evening with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue TD, to discuss the draft Horse and Greyhound Fund Regulations 2021.

The Committee will also resume discussions on Ireland’s Nitrates Action Programme with Minister McConalogue.

Speaking ahead of the meeting at 5.30pm in Committee Room 3 of Leinster House, Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Jackie Cahill said: “State funding is vital to the survival of the horse and greyhound industries, which are both important in terms of jobs and revenue. Budget 2022 allocates €88 million for the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund, with 80 per cent going to Horse Racing Ireland (€70.4m) and 20 per cent to Bord na gCon (€17.6m). The Committee looks forward to engaging with the Minister on how this exchequer funding will contribute to the continued development of these two industries.”

“On the Nitrates Action Programme, the Committee supports the fundamental principle of the programme, which is to reduce the environmental impact on surface and groundwater by the farming industry. But there remains a need for far-sighted solutions and there are still concerns about the impact on farm incomes and the extent to which farmers will be financially supported to implement the new measures. We look forward to discussing these and the important policy changes with the Minister.”

The Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine has 14 Members, nine from the Dáil and five from the Seanad.

The meeting in Committee Room 3 can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.

Media enquiries

Robert Kennedy-Cochrane
Houses of the Oireachtas
Communications Unit
Leinster House
Dublin 2

+353 (0)1 618 4149
+353 (0) 85 8707436

robert.kennedy-cochrane@oireachtas.ie
pressoffice@oireachtas.ie
Twitter: @OireachtasNews

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