Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Wednesday, 9 December 2015
Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Committee Stage
10:00 am
Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source
We talk about HRI like it is some group in its ivory tower that is not interested in the broader interests of the sector. This is probably the most representative board or group of any sector or industry in the country bar none. It is prescribed in legislation that it has to be that way. Of a board of 14 people, the Minister appoints only three. They are probably better qualified to make the decision than we are in terms of media rights. Sometimes when politicians try to prescribe in primary legislation who should be on what committee or who should be doing what, it may not be the wisest thing to do. That is all I am saying. I will have a look at it for Report Stage if the Deputy wants but I want to put a bit of faith in a board to which I am going to be appointing three members plus the chair and on which every other element and stakeholder in the racing industry also has representation.
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