Danny Healy-Rae: Defends £88m for Horse Racing and Greyhounds
Danny Healy-Rae spoke on 30 Nov 2021 about funding for horse racing and the greyhound industry, thanking the minister for an £88 million allocation while noting it was a reduction of £8 million from the previous year. He urged a standing order to guarantee annual payments and defended the sector's workers, animals and rural economic role.
Funding and reduction
He praised the minister for providing £88 million but expressed regret the sum was £8 million less than last year. He questioned why the allocation must be approved annually and suggested a standing order so funding for horse racing and greyhound racing would be secured every year.
Industry scale and employment
He cited the scale of the industries - saying horse racing supports 29,000 jobs and the greyhound sector involves about 12,000 people - and emphasised the hard work of those employed in racing and greyhound care. He said these workers look after their animals well and contribute significantly to the economy.
Defence of reputation and contribution
He acknowledged the industry had suffered a bad name due to a few rogues but insisted 99% of participants are genuine and committed. He argued the industry makes a serious contribution to rural Ireland through community involvement and livelihoods.
Regional impact
He highlighted the impact across local areas, naming places including Guinea, Guillaume, Calcivene, Scotland, Lane and Cashel Island, North Kerry, Noctogoshal and Brustard. He said the difference funding and racing activity makes to those communities is massive.
Closing remarks
He concluded his contribution by thanking the Deputy and reiterating his support for stable funding for horse racing and the greyhound industry.
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Thank you very much, John Corley. I'm good to see you back again in action. Minister, I want to thank you, first of all, for giving the £88 million. The only regret I have is that it is a reduction of £8 million from last year. We all know that the cost of everything is going up. I'm only wondering why do we have to come in here every year and approve this? Shouldn't there be a standing order that horse racing and the greyhound industry, greyhound racing island, that they get their money every year? Because they return it back to the couples in abundance, you know, after, you know, the year when they provide the racing, the horse racing, they say 29,000 jobs. And the doggy people, 12,000 people, you know, are working and working very hard and, you know, with their dogs and they treat them very well. And it was sad that, yes, the industry did get a bit of a bad name there for a while because of some couple of few rogues. But the whole 99% of these people are genuine people and they live for their dogs and they live for their community and they do make a serious contribution to rural Ireland. Places like Guinea, Guillaume, Calcivene, and then you go up to Scotland, Lane and Cashel Island and North Kerry and over into Noctogoshal and Brustard. The difference that, you know, those people, the difference that it makes to those people is massive in all those areas. Thank you, Deputy.
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