Tim Lombard (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the board members and chairman of Horse Racing Ireland for their contributions this evening. It is very important to bring clarity and, hopefully, closure to this issue. We are all aware of the importance of the horse racing industry to the economy. Can I get some clarity on the actual process? It was well flagged five years ago that a new CEO would be in place by this time 2016. What succession planning and processes were put in place? It was not a surprise that the CEO contract had to be renegotiated or a new CEO appointed. What independent external advice did the board get on that? Did it advertise the role, were there applications and, if so, how many? If it did not advertise, why did it not take that step? It comes down to the whole issue of due process and the actual corporate governance. In a nutshell, as an entity, what process did the board put in place five years ago for the succession planning around this event? Did the board have a view five years ago that it had its man and would hold on to him in five years' time? Some people looking in take the view that this was never going to change. I assume we can get clarity on those issues because in a position of such importance for the Irish racing industry, transparency was very important for everyone. As such, we need to get clarity on the whole process, the timelines and how this decision was arrived at to bring us to where we are today. It is unfortunate because the board members are busy men and women and do not want to be in front of the joint committee.

Going forward, what process has been put in place to ensure that we are not in the same position in five years' time? The board has seen the mistakes of the past. Have we learned from them moving forward? Clarity is required. The witnesses might explain what advice the board got, from whom and when the process started. Did it start two years ago or five years ago? Was the position advertised? How many people applied? If it was not advertised, why was it not?