ALL eyes in the Irish Sport Horse industry are firmly fixed on how the traditionally underfunded sector will fare under Charlie McConalogue (FF) in his vital new role as the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the third appointment to this key portfolio in as many weeks.

In his past role as Opposition Agriculture spokesperson, the Donegal TD is encouragingly on record as voicing his support for – and acknowledging the future potential – of the sector which supports some 14,000 full-time jobs and is worth over €816 million to the Irish economy annually.

Speaking just before the 2020 General Election, Charlie McConalogue said: “We very much value the potential of the horse sport industry and sector and what it does at the moment. But also, in particular, what it can do into the future.”

“There was a strategy published, Reaching New Heights, which outlined 32 recommendations in terms of how its potential can be further developed.

“We would fully support that and seek to back that if in government, and we were very much to the forefront over the last year or two as well in terms of trying to push to ensure that additional funding would have be provided – it went from €3 million to €4 million in the last budget.

“And that is going to be needed into the future to back the undoubted potential of the sport horse sector, which isn’t operating to its full potential at the moment, but with support it can do,” he added.

Barry O’Connor of the Sports Horse Alliance also welcomed Minister McConalogue as Minister for Agriculture saying: “He is a good guy, I met him on two occasions. He is a good listener and quite focused. He’s down to earth and I’d have plenty of respect for him.”

O’Connor pointed out that the Irish Sport Horse industry has proved more robust than some sectors in the face of the extra challenges brought about by the pandemic. “That shows the underlining economic strength of our industry. There is more work to do for it to reach its potential,” he added.

Warm welcome

Horse Sport Ireland CEO Ronan Murphy said yesterday (Friday): “We warmly congratulate Minister McConalogue on his new appointment and wish him every success in the important role of Minister for Agriculture.

“Sport Horse breeding and production is very substantial industry with a value to the Irish economy in excess of €816 million per annum whilst engaging over 14,000 in full-time employment.

“We have met with the Minister last year and we look forward to meeting him again shortly, as Minister for Agriculture, to discuss the Irish Sport Horse Sector, our Budget 2021 submission and the positive commitments towards our industry as set out in the current programme for Government and which strongly support further investment in Ireland’s sport horse industry.”

Cahill supportive

Tipperary Fianna Fail TD Jackie Cahill was appointed chair of the Oireachtas Committee of Agriculture, Food and the Marine this week.

Speaking to The Irish Field yesterday (Friday), he said the sport horse industry deserves substantial Government support.

“Horse Sport Ireland have been lobbying to get special allocation in the budget for some time. They are looking at the Horse and Greyhound Racing fund, which is allocated €80 million, and they have been lobbying that they should get a prescribed fund, and I can see their logic. It would be a permanent way to support the industry going forward,” Cahill said.

“Greg Broderick is living very near me [in Tipperary], I know the Broderick family very well, they have a lot of people employed, a big business, and that all filters back down into the industry. It filters down to the man breeding the foal, down to the industry to keep the sales at Goresbridge and Cavan going.

“Horse Sport Ireland have been at the back of the queue in regards to funding. I believe they are arranging a meeting for next Tuesday to get their point across before the budget,” Cahill added.

Asked whether expecting funding increases in Budget 2021 against the background of the financial pressures Covid-19 has brought on the Government, the new chair of the Oireachtas Committee of Agriculture said: “No doubt there is a huge amount of extra expenditure with Covid. However, against that, we have to recognise the industries that are playing vital roles and we have to try and find scope for them.

“The sport horse industry isn’t asking for a huge allocation in overall exchequer terms and I would hope that their case would get a favourable allocation.”