Mr. Brendan Gleeson:

Head 4 deals in the first instance with the HRI board. Again, what is contained here is a reflection of the recommendations in the Indecon report. In section 4(2), the number of ordinary members of the board is reduced from 13 to 12. That is a reflection of a view expressed by Indecon that the board was probably too big. Indeed, it cited OECD and other studies which suggested that smaller boards function more effectively. It is not much of a reduction, but there is also an increase in the representation of the Minister from one to three. That requires, in turn, a reduction in the number of nominees of the racing regulatory body from five to three. In another provision here, the reference to the Minister for Finance is changed in section 4(6)(1) to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. There is an explicit requirement in section 4(6)(2) that the HRI shall have regard to Government policy, the code of practice for the governance of State agencies and other public pay policy in determining the remuneration of the chairman and the board members.

It is arguable that these provisions were already applicable, but there was no explicit requirement in the legislation. We simply wished to make it crystal clear that the chairman and board members are bound by current Government policy.