Presenter Matt Cooper pictured with Fianna Fáil Minister Thomas Byrne, TD, Labour Cllr. Darragh Moriarty and Social Democrats, Gary Gannon, TD for the Premier Sport Election Special held in Dublin. Pic: Robbie Reynolds
The funding of the horse and greyhound industries via a levy on gambling came into sharp focus as the Premier Sports channel put together an election debate on sports ahead of Friday’s General Election.
Six politicians from various parties joined host Matt Cooper for the program on Monday night though, notably, the sitting Minister with overall responsibility for sport Catherine Martin with Cooper reporting that she was unavailable.
The funding of the horse and greyhound racing industries was discussed in both parts of the 90 minute live show.
The industries, through state support from the Department of Agriculture, benefit to the tune of around €100m per annum via the betting tax.
A number of party manifestos have suggested raising the betting tax to help fund other sporting infrastructure though Gary Gannon of the Social Democrats insisted greyhound racing should be scrapped in its entirety.
“In our manifesto we have the phasing out of greyhound racing, now I’d actually do it overnight if I had my way,” Gannon said.
“I think it is a cruel sport that serves very few. I don’t like the idea that dogs are killed because they won’t run fast enough.
“I disagree with some analysis that it brings in billions, I don’t think it does, I think it’s sustaining an industry that couldn’t sustain itself without it and I don’t want to be complicit in what is effectively in what the murder of 6,000 dogs a year.”
Fine Gael’s Neale Richmond pointed out those industries generate significant revenue and jobs for the country.
“The horse racing industry for example is worth over €2bn to the economy. I have Leopardstown race course in my constituency and it’s not just about the horse racing, it’s a fantastic facility and going to be the site of new public housing in combination as well,” he said.
“And the greyhound industry we see up to 10,000 people work in that industry in a part- and full-time basis.”