Horse Racing Ireland funding row
Deputy Martin Kenny raised controversy around the greyhound and horse racing sector, saying Ministers had been misled about a business case and an HRI CEO reappointment. The Chair ruled parts out of order, and the Taoiseach replied only that the agriculture Minister had already dealt with the issue before committee.
As the Government is aware, page 114 of the programme for Government states the Government will prioritise strategic investment to support modernisation of the greyhound and horse racing sector. In recent days we have had a lot of turmoil, and yesterday evening the Minister appeared before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine to discuss this. Two issues are coming to the fore on this. The board of Horse Racing Ireland, supposedly because of a mix-up, inadvertently misled the Minister. There is also the issue that a business case was put forward-----
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It goes to the very heart of the issue of new government and new politics.
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Yes, we are dealing with promised legislation and the programme for Government. I have raised the issue on the back of this.
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A business case was supposed to be brought forward. It was revealed to us yesterday evening that there was no business case and that the business case was simply a letter from the chairperson of HRI to-----
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There is no business case. Does the Taoiseach concur that his two Ministers were misled and that they have agreed to the appointment of the CEO of HRI for a third term which, apart from the huge salary the man in question will receive, is in breach of Government guidelines?
