I want to talk about two events I was at over the weekend. One of them was run by the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association, ITBA. I was brought up on a farm in County Kildare with point-to-point horses. Horse racing, horse breeding and the half-bred industry, all of that is a fascinating industry and it really impressed me. Last weekend I really enjoyed it because I saw ordinary people from farms all over Ireland attending this event, with some of the people who would be well known in the media and get a lot of the attention. An award went to Sandra Russell, a small-time breeder and farmer from Tipperary. She had bred a horse that made €1.6 million. She is an ordinary lady but one who is absolutely kicking the ball out of the park. Then there was Joe Osborne who was given a special award. When he was in school many years ago Joe Osborne was warned that if he did not study he would end up working with horses. I can tell everyone that it has worked out very well for him. He led the Godolphin operation in Kildangan and beyond for Sheikh Maktoum. This is an industry that brings in €2.5 billion to the economy and employs over 30,000 people. Well done to everybody involved.

The second event was in the Leader's constituency in Newbridge. I was asked to attend an event by my old alma mater. I know the Cathaoirleach will find it hard to believe but I was there 40 years ago in secondary school. I was asked to MC an event and the alumni from various years were there. It was fascinating to see different people from the arts, business, politics and charities and what they had achieved. My job was to interview three alumni. One was Geordan Murphy, the Irish rugby international. The second was Louise Quinn, the Irish soccer international and the third was Niamh Horan from the Sunday Independent. It was fascinating to see what the alumni from a school can do when they all bond together and they can achieve much. From setting up Tiglin over the years I know that I have not kept in touch with the Newbridge College alumni but a lot of them have supported me, got behind me, given me properties and made a huge difference. My point is that when alumni work together we can make that difference.