Mr. Dermot A. Ryan:

Bord na gCon came back within the remit of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in May 2010. As a matter of procedure, we meet our three State bodies - Horse Racing Ireland, the National Stud and Bord na gCon - twice a year routinely, in order to discuss a set number of items. We deal with anything controversial which is raised in a wide-ranging discussion. We go through the code of governance for State bodies. We have quite an elaborate check list to ensure that everything is followed through correctly. Other special meetings are also convened, as required from time to time, outside those two regular meetings.