Vol. 525 No. 1
13 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Finance the latest position in his discussions with the horse racing bodies regarding the proposed tax package to fund the establishment of a new single authority to govern horse racing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23472/00]
At the end of last year, I proposed that the horse racing bodies be amalgamated into a single governing structure to achieve desirable levels of rationalisation, efficiency and other improvements within the industry. This goal was shared by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development and virtually all the existing organisations within Irish horseracing, and it is therefore not surprising that our proposal was largely well received and given serious consideration by the relevant bodies from the outset.
Following a period of intensive negotiations and consultations between Department of Agriculture officials and representatives of industry organisations earlier in the year, the Minister for Agriculture and I announced our detailed proposals on 28 July 2000. Although these proposals were generally welcomed, the Turf Club and the Association of Irish Racecourses expressed reservations on some issues.
At a meeting with the Association of Irish Racecources on 13 September, Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development officials agreed a number of measures to address the main issues of concern to them. Officials of that Department subsequently met members of the Turf Club on the 25 September and again on 19 October. Following these meetings, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development and I met with senior stewards of the Turf Club on 19 October. Following lengthy and intensive discussions, we agreed a framework by which the outstanding concerns of the Turf Club can be fully addressed.
On the basis of this agreement, it is our belief that the conditions now exist for the establishment of the proposed new governing body for the Irish horseracing industry. The new body is to be provided with a secure source of funding which will equate to the proceeds of the tax on off-course betting allocated on a 4:1 ratio between the horse and greyhound industries. It is expected that this arrangement will eliminate the need for the Exchequer grant assistance which is allocated to the industry at present. With this objective in mind, I understand that the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development is shortly to begin the process by which the necessary legislation can be put before the House as quickly as possible.
