Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to comment. This issue has been ongoing for some time. On the work programme there is publicity about Bord na gCon, which is due to come before the committee. Horse Racing Ireland and Bord na gCon get funding. In the article Mr. Treacy supplied to us from The Irish Field, there are allegations that €750,000 was lost due to a cost savings plan delay. The journalist who wrote the article said the loss was due to a delay in implementing cost saving measures agreed by the Turf Club and Horse Racing Ireland. We must invite both of those organisations to the committee to find out why there was such a delay and to discuss their financial situation. The organisations get large sums of money from the taxpayer. We have already agreed to bring in Bord na gCon which is the dog side of the fund allocated compared with the horse version of the fund. The vast majority of the overall fund goes on Horse Racing Ireland and a small amount goes to Bord na gCon. I do not say the organisations should come on the same day but they should both appear before the committee. I would send them the article, of which they are probably aware as it is in the public media.