Results 1,341-1,360 of 1,098,767 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:Michael McNamara OR speaker:Maurice Quinlivan OR speaker:James O'Connor OR speaker:Patrick O'Donovan OR speaker:Frank Feighan OR speaker:Jennifer Carroll MacNeill OR speaker:Michael Fitzmaurice OR speaker:Dara Calleary OR speaker:Charlie McConalogue OR speaker:Chris Andrews OR speaker:Chris Andrews8 OR speaker:Bríd Smith OR speaker:James Lawless OR speaker:Chris Andrews6 OR speaker:Joe O'Brien OR speaker:Marian Harkin OR speaker:John Lahart OR speaker:Seán Crowe OR speaker:Martin Browne OR speaker:Paschal Donohoe OR speaker:Cormac Devlin OR speaker:Roderic O'Gorman OR speaker:Ciarán Cannon OR speaker:Joe McHugh OR speaker:Claire Kerrane OR speaker:Éamon Ó Cuív OR speaker:John Brady OR speaker:Simon Harris OR speaker:Éamon Ó Cuív98) in 'Committee meetings'

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2024: Motion (16 Oct 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Deputy Mythen. With regard to Rásaíocht Con Éireann, for example, a minimum of 10% of all funding must go towards welfare services. With regard to HRI, 20% has to be applied for integrity services. On HRI, I think it was Deputy Kenny who was asking about the capital breakdown.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2024: Motion (16 Oct 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: At my last meeting with it, it informed me it was exceeding that 10% level. Obviously, as the fund increases the percentage requirement will still apply, so the figure spent on it will increase too. It is a key requirement. In terms of the plans it has in place, we will be seeing an increase. It is being stepped out further compared to where it is at present. With regard to the capital...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2024: Motion (16 Oct 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I will come back to the Cathaoirleach further on this. It is not something I have discussed with the sector. I will get the committee a note on it. I allocated funding to harness racing last year in the budget. It was the first time an allocation was made to it. It is a sector we would like to see supported and developed. On the particular point relating to a tote, the Irish Harness...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2024: Motion (16 Oct 2024)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Or a nose. I thank the Minister and the officials for coming before the committee. Politicians get a lot of emails and I have a question for the Minister because I cannot fathom it. In all the various horse sectors, everyone seems to be falling out with everyone else and everyone is bringing each other to court. What is wrong in an industry that gets so much money? Are the procedures...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2024: Motion (16 Oct 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Deputy Fitzmaurice is addressing the challenges in the sport horse sector.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2024: Motion (16 Oct 2024)

Michael Fitzmaurice: It is in all of the sectors. In Connemara at present it is nearly impossible to get books. We are constantly getting emails about different problems in different parts. The Minister knows my views on the books. In fairness, the Department is able to hammer out 1.5 million or more cattle books without a bit of bother, efficiently and quickly. I understand DNA must be checked but I am...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2024: Motion (16 Oct 2024)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I know.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2024: Motion (16 Oct 2024)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2024: Motion (16 Oct 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Horse Racing Ireland and Rásaíocht Con Éireann work very well with the funding that is allocated. They administer it very well and effectively. There have been challenges with the sport horse sector, working through Horse Sport Ireland in recent years. It is known the previous board stood down 18 months or more ago. I stepped in to appoint a new board to try to bring the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2024: Motion (16 Oct 2024)

Michael Fitzmaurice: With regard to thoroughbreds, there were debacles during the year about new rules being imposed at the racetracks. Has this been resolved?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2024: Motion (16 Oct 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I am not sure which rules the Deputy is referring to.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2024: Motion (16 Oct 2024)

Michael Fitzmaurice: It is about access for ambulances. I understand that one or two courses could not hold races because of a new rule brought in. I am not sure whether it involves two ambulances being able to access at all times. There was some stand-off on that. Was it resolved?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2024: Motion (16 Oct 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I am not aware, Deputy Fitzmaurice.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2024: Motion (16 Oct 2024)

Michael Fitzmaurice: That is all right. How does the Department monitor value for money?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2024: Motion (16 Oct 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: There would be an obligation on the HRI and Rásaíocht Con Éireann to monitor closely with their committees and stakeholders, but also through an annual report which is published. There is ongoing engagement with my Department and thorough auditing, plus oversight by the Comptroller and Auditor General.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2024: Motion (16 Oct 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Very much so. Funding is contingent on continuing progress and development in respect of welfare safeguards. Rásaíocht Con Éireann has done exceptional work. Its new traceability system has over 50,000 greyhounds registered and the greyhounds are monitored throughout their lifespan. There has also been very significant investment in rehoming programmes. It has been good to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Pre-Agriculture and Fisheries Council: Discussion (16 Oct 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: In that respect, I welcome the Commission's recent proposal to amend the 2012 regulation on measures to address unsustainable fishing of shared stocks by non-EU countries. Moving on to the sustainability impact assessment itself, an open consultation process was initiated on 16 September, whereby stakeholders were asked to submit their comments and observations on the ICES scientific advice...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2024: Motion (16 Oct 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: It has been there since 2020 and I believe it is spending more than the 10% on it as well. That is the minimum requirement; it must be spending at least 10% of the funding on welfare.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2024: Motion (16 Oct 2024)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Obviously we are all aware of some of the recent television programmes broadcast about the greyhound industry. Is the Department following up to ensure the welfare of dogs?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Children with Disabilities - UNCRPD Article 7: Discussion (16 Oct 2024)

Frank Feighan: I thank the witnesses for their presentations, which were very informative and useful. I thank them also for attending the meeting and articulating the issues that need to be addressed. As they will know, this committee works on a cross-party basis and has been a very united committee under the stewardship of the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson. It is a committee that genuinely wants to...