Agriculture committee to discuss racing fund and CAP reforms

The Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food will hold two separate sessions on Wednesday, 11 November, in Leinster House’s Committee Room 4. The first session, from 15:30 to 16:30, will focus on the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2026. Representatives from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine will present the statutory framework for allocating funding to Horse Racing Ireland and Rásaíocht Con Éireann. Key topics include animal welfare, prize money, industry infrastructure, and maintaining competitiveness within Ireland’s horse and greyhound racing sectors. Committee Cathaoirleach, Aindrias Moynihan, highlighted the importance of this session, stating the committee will question Minister Martin Heydon on how the regulations support sustainable growth and deliver tangible benefits for industry participants, local communities, and the wider economy. The second session, scheduled from 16:30 to 18:00, will focus on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) post-2027. The committee will engage with the Minister and departmental officials to discuss concerns over the proposed funding levels and the structure of the new CAP framework. Members will raise questions about the progress of new proposals and the efforts made to ensure Irish farmers and rural stakeholders’ needs are addressed. The committee will specifically seek clarity on the National and Regional Partnership Plans, the future of the Cohesion Fund, and initiatives supporting young farmers and generational renewal. Moynihan emphasised the necessity of a transparent policy framework that responds effectively to ongoing and emerging challenges facing the agricultural sector and rural communities. These sessions underscore the committee’s commitment to overseeing crucial regulatory and policy developments impacting Ireland’s agriculture and rural economy.