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

It is quite shocking to read the various reports of the activities of the Irish Greyhound Board, the boards, the losses on the sites and the deals that were done in respect of the filling and so on, because it shows a complete ignoring by you of the processes you said you would correct and put in place after your appearance here in 2008.

Mr. Meaney, you said in your opening remarks that traditionally the industry has been fragmented but that there was no doubt in your mind that the vast majority of greyhound people were on the same page because they knew their industry. However, everyone on the Committee of Public Accounts has received correspondence from a greyhound owners and breeders association criticising the board and stating a vote of no-confidence was passed unanimously with regard to the Irish Greyhound Board chairman, Phil Meaney, and the chief executive, Adrian Neilan. I am simply giving the comment, I am not saying whether it was right or wrong.

Then, there were further submissions to the committee. If I am not mistaken, there is a North East Greyhound Owners and Breeders Association and there seems to be another greyhound breeders association in Limerick. They have expressed criticism and concern around the industry. They are concerned about their own industry. They are concerned about whether the Irish Greyhound Board has a handle on what exactly is happening. They have expressed concern about individuals on the board but also about the debt and indebtedness of the greyhound industry.

It would seem the predictions the board made in 2007 to the Minister have not been fulfilled and that the board has fallen short. Perhaps that is an economic issue generally but it does not give rise to confidence. What have you to say to those people raising all of these questions? Substantial questions are being raised. Have you taken any action against the media outlets that have printed a good deal of stuff about the Irish Greyhound Board? Have you attempted to correct it?