Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 7 November 2013

Public Accounts Committee

Bord na gCon - Annual Accounts 2011

12:20 pm

Photo of John McGuinnessJohn McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As was previously stated by Deputy Harris, I also am not against the greyhound industry. I support the industry. I support the greyhound breeders and the associated activity. This is not about jobs or the dogs industry. We understand the work that has been done.

If the board is getting between €11 million and €15 million per year, then it must be spending it on something. There is activity taking place, there are stadiums and investments taking place. I acknowledge all of that. The job here is to examine the spend, to get value for the taxpayer and to ensure that the money is spent in accordance with the procedures and so on laid down.

A couple of things have come across in your exchange with the other members. You were here before, Mr. Neilan, in 2008. You were discussing procurement and other matters and the loss of taxpayers' money. You said at that time that you had learned valuable lessons from that period. You had only come into the organisation at that stage. Is that correct?

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