We are all entitled to our own views but let us not try to knock a very large amount of people in this country who are passionate about this activity and do care about it-----

On the greyhound racing side in 2024, 358,141 people attended just short of 1,500 race meetings at 14 stadia. The economic activity point has been made by a number of Deputies regarding the attendances at those stadia, the spin-off industry that happens in the bars and restaurants outside the racing activity, the best dressed ladies, the boutiques, the hairdressers, the men's clothes shops and all that activity. A number of years ago, the Punchestown racing festival was calculated to be worth over €60 million to th…

It is great to have an opportunity in the Seanad to discuss a really important issue. As Senators are no doubt aware, the horse and greyhound industries are an important part of Ireland's economic and cultural heritage. Both sectors help promote balanced economic growth across Ireland, as they provide significant economic and social benefit to rural communities. Their importance has been acknowledged by successive Governments, and they are supported through legislation and policy initiatives. Exchequer funding prov…

It was a public consultation.

I thank the Senators for their valuable contributions to what is an important debate. I respect everyone's strongly held views on both sides of the House. I have a written response but I would prefer to go through the individual points that have been raised by colleagues. That would be more beneficial in terms of the very valid points that have been raised across the board, starting with Senator Brady. He articulately outlined the economic benefits to areas of Roscommon from the horse racing activity that happens o…

On the points outlined by Senators Daly and Davitt in terms of disappointment that the fund is static compared with last year, this was a very constrained budget. I have 13 different semi-State bodies under my remit in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Bord Bia, Teagasc, and the horse and greyhound fund have all seen significant increases year on year in recent times, but given the constrained nature of this budget, I did not have the ability to raise the budgets for those semi-State organisations…

The public consultation is completed. The results have to be collated. I have instructed my officials that I want that published as soon as possible and Senators will see that report imminently. It will absolutely happen this year. This will not be long-fingered.

Yes, absolutely; imminently. The Senator has my word on that. A number of Senators raised the issue of rehoming and related matters. As happened in committee last night, a number of figures were being referenced around rehoming and linkages with expenditure on that. Senator Davitt talked earlier about red herrings, which is a strong phrase, and about absolutely making sure we adequately represent elements. Those very small numbers were just in relation to domestic rehomings. They did not take account of the greyhou…

That is what I was referencing.

The public consultation will lead to a legislative process. It is going to happen-----

I have been very clear.

No.

I thank Deputies for raising this issue. I acknowledge the presence of those in the Public Gallery for the debate. I intend to divide my address into two parts. On behalf of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, I will speak to the broader issues of trade before addressing some of the specific agricultural elements of the Mercosur trade deal. Trade and our relationships with partners around the world are a central feature of the Irish economic model. Ireland’s story is one of openness - openness to the world,…

I move: That the proposal that Dáil Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2025, a copy of which has been laid in draft form before Dáil Éireann on 16th October, 2025, be referred to the Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food, in accordance with Standing Order 103(5), which, not later than 20th November, 2025, shall send a message to the Dáil in the manner prescribed in Standing Order 110, and Standing Order 109(2) shall accordingly apply.

I move: That leave be given by the Dáil to introduce the following Supplementary Estimates for the service of the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2025: Vote 2 — Department of the Taoiseach ( Supplementary Estimate ). Vote 6 — Office of the Chief State Solicitor ( Supplementary Estimate ). Vote 7 — Office of the Minister for Finance ( Supplementary Estimate ). Vote 9 — Office of the Revenue Commissioners ( Supplementary Estimate ). Vote 11 — Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digi…

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. First, I extend my sympathy to the flock owner affected in Carlow. We have a 3 km protection zone and a 10 km zone in place, as is procedure. At noon today, I announced the introduction of a housing order in consultation with my colleague in Northern Ireland, the Minister, Mr. Muir. That will take effect in Ireland from next Monday because we need to allow time for our flock owners and commercial operators to put housing in place. We will work across areas. We ar…

I thank the Deputy for raising what is a really important issue. The nitrates derogation is critically important, not just for our 7,000 derogation farmers, many of whom are in County Tipperary, but for our overall rural economy and for all elements of agriculture. It comes down to land availability and many other measures. This has been a top priority for me since I became Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. I attended the meeting of a couple of thousand farmers in Fermoy on Monday night. I will meet wi…

I thank the Deputy for raising this point. We in government fundamentally believe in the importance of the nitrates derogation. Our 7,000 derogation farmers are operating to a higher level of environmental sustainability and with a higher level of conditionality to meet that point. We know the economic value it has for our country, with 49% of our dairy herd in derogation and producing 65% of our milk. The majority of the €6.3 billion worth of exports from our dairy sector, which is so important to our rural econom…

My officials are taking note of all the questions.

I thank Deputies for their engagement in what is a really important debate on the issues in respect of fisheries. The concern in all our coastal communities, as raised by Deputies, is very evident, particularly in Donegal and Cork where fishing is such an intrinsic part of our economic activity, as it is in Waterford and Dublin - the latter which is sometimes forgotten in terms of costal communities and economic activity - and, as the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, knows all too well, Clare. Deputy Lawless raise…