Menu
12/12/2017
Govt Urged To End Its Support Of Horse And Greyhound Racing Industry
The government has been urged to end its support of the horse and greyhound racing industry until "sufficient reform is implemented".
Making the call, Sinn Fein spokesperson on Agriculture, Food and Marine expressed concern at the amount of public money being given to the industry.
Deputy Kenny said: "There are very many people who feel that the amount of public money, 80 million euro, being put into the horse and greyhound racing industry mainly benefits a sector of society which is really a club of very rich people.
"I do understand how some industries and sectors need to get investment in order to stimulate their development and growth, however this sector is long past that stage.
"I believe that in spite of this huge investment over the years, there is still not enough being done to help the small breeders who struggle at the other, bottom end of the scale. Those of us from a rural community all know people who are involved in keeping horses and are persistently trying to succeed, but are failing most of their time.
"What strikes me the most of all is that this vast amount of money being given to the horse racing industry goes into prize money, which ends up with an already very well off and elite sector of society.
"We had representatives from HRI before the committee and indeed, the people representing the greyhound board and there are still serious issues about governance and regulation within these two organisations and certainly, enough concern to prevent us in Sinn Féin from supporting this use of public money.
"The lack of regulation is intentional and frankly, obscene – benefitting and enriching a small sector of Irish society."
Deputy Kenny said that Sinn Féin does not support the amount of money currently being given to the horse and greyhound racing industry, "in the context of what is continuing to go on."
He concluded that the party was calling on the government to end its support of the industry, "until sufficient reform is implemented".
(MH/CD)
Making the call, Sinn Fein spokesperson on Agriculture, Food and Marine expressed concern at the amount of public money being given to the industry.
Deputy Kenny said: "There are very many people who feel that the amount of public money, 80 million euro, being put into the horse and greyhound racing industry mainly benefits a sector of society which is really a club of very rich people.
"I do understand how some industries and sectors need to get investment in order to stimulate their development and growth, however this sector is long past that stage.
"I believe that in spite of this huge investment over the years, there is still not enough being done to help the small breeders who struggle at the other, bottom end of the scale. Those of us from a rural community all know people who are involved in keeping horses and are persistently trying to succeed, but are failing most of their time.
"What strikes me the most of all is that this vast amount of money being given to the horse racing industry goes into prize money, which ends up with an already very well off and elite sector of society.
"We had representatives from HRI before the committee and indeed, the people representing the greyhound board and there are still serious issues about governance and regulation within these two organisations and certainly, enough concern to prevent us in Sinn Féin from supporting this use of public money.
"The lack of regulation is intentional and frankly, obscene – benefitting and enriching a small sector of Irish society."
Deputy Kenny said that Sinn Féin does not support the amount of money currently being given to the horse and greyhound racing industry, "in the context of what is continuing to go on."
He concluded that the party was calling on the government to end its support of the industry, "until sufficient reform is implemented".
(MH/CD)
Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
18 July 2011
Greyhound Racing 'Simi-Webcast' Launches
Limerick Greyhound Stadium & Shelbourne Park Greyhound Stadium will jointly host their first ever global simultaneous webcast transmission from two Irish Greyhound Racing venues this Saturday. The races will be broadcast live from both venues and will feature the Final of The Townview Foods.
Greyhound Racing 'Simi-Webcast' Launches
Limerick Greyhound Stadium & Shelbourne Park Greyhound Stadium will jointly host their first ever global simultaneous webcast transmission from two Irish Greyhound Racing venues this Saturday. The races will be broadcast live from both venues and will feature the Final of The Townview Foods.
28 June 2019
Sinn Féin Call For Freeze On Greyhound Industry Funding
Sinn Féin have called for a freeze on exchequer funding to the greyhound industry following revelations about the sectors revealed in an RTÉ Investigates programme. Making the call, Sinn Féin's spokesman for agriculture, food and the marine, Martin Kenny, said: "Any decent person would be shocked by what they saw on RTÉ Investigates last night.
Sinn Féin Call For Freeze On Greyhound Industry Funding
Sinn Féin have called for a freeze on exchequer funding to the greyhound industry following revelations about the sectors revealed in an RTÉ Investigates programme. Making the call, Sinn Féin's spokesman for agriculture, food and the marine, Martin Kenny, said: "Any decent person would be shocked by what they saw on RTÉ Investigates last night.
13 January 2009
Credit Crunch Hits Bookies
The horse racing industry has itself become 'a faller' for the first time in more than 15 years. According to the latest statistics from Horse Racing Ireland, the effects of the economic downturn, as well as bad weather conditions, hit the sector in the second half of 2008.
Credit Crunch Hits Bookies
The horse racing industry has itself become 'a faller' for the first time in more than 15 years. According to the latest statistics from Horse Racing Ireland, the effects of the economic downturn, as well as bad weather conditions, hit the sector in the second half of 2008.
03 May 2017
Department Of Education To Acquire Former Greyhound Stadium
The Irish Greyhound Board, Bord na gCon, has accepted an offer from the Department of Education and Skills to acquire the former Greyhound Stadium at Harold's Cross in Dublin, subject to standard approvals required. The acquisition will also be subject to the satisfactory completion of the conveyancing process.
Department Of Education To Acquire Former Greyhound Stadium
The Irish Greyhound Board, Bord na gCon, has accepted an offer from the Department of Education and Skills to acquire the former Greyhound Stadium at Harold's Cross in Dublin, subject to standard approvals required. The acquisition will also be subject to the satisfactory completion of the conveyancing process.
05 June 2013
Tom Hayes Appointed Minister of State
Fine Gael’s Tom Hayes has been announced as the new Minister of State for Forestry, Horticulture, the Greyhound Industry and Food Safety, a role left vacant by the death last December of Shane McEntee.
Tom Hayes Appointed Minister of State
Fine Gael’s Tom Hayes has been announced as the new Minister of State for Forestry, Horticulture, the Greyhound Industry and Food Safety, a role left vacant by the death last December of Shane McEntee.
-
Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:West to northwest gale force winds, severe along the north coast, will continue overnight. Frequent showers persist, merging into longer periods of rain at times and turning wintry. Minimum temperature 1 °C.
