asked the Minister for Finance whether, in view of the serious position of racing in this country, he will introduce proposals for legislation to abolish the entertainments tax in respect of race meetings and the betting tax levied at racecourses or either of those taxes.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - RACING TAXES—SUGGESTED ABOLITION.
I have appointed an InterDepartmental Committee to inquire into and report at the earliest possible date on the present condition of Irish racing, both metropolitan and provincial, with particular reference to the effect thereon of the entertainments duty and the betting duty, and to examine closely the results that might be expected to follow the introduction of the totalisator on Irish racecourses. The Committee has been in communication with all provincial and metropolitan race companies and with representatives of the horse-breeding industry as well as with the Turf Club and the Bookmakers' Associations. It has been somewhat hampered in its work by delay on the part of some race companies in furnishing certain returns which were called for, but it has collected a mass of statistics and information on the examination of which it is at present engaged.
When the Committee has completed its examination of all the material before it, opportunity will be given to all interests concerned in Irish racing, including the general public, to lay their views personally before the Committee. When the Committee's Report has been received, it will be possible to measure more accurately than can be done at present the effect of the entertainments duty and the betting duty on Irish racing. As I indicated to the Dáil on the 3rd June, 1926, and again on the 21st April, 1927, if it should be found that the yield from the betting duty is unexpectedly large, or that the tax is seriously affecting in an adverse way the attendance at race meetings and consequently the funds available for keeping racing going, I will be prepared to recommend that provision should be made for increasing stakes.
I must add, however, that it is not right to look merely to the State for action which will tend to improve the present unsatisfactory position of Irish racing. The various race executives and the controlling bodies must be prepared on their part to contribute towards a solution of the problem with which they are confronted.