Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I agree and concur with all my colleagues and request that the committee writes to HRI. I ask the clerk to the committee to clarify the following. I did ask Mr. Kavanagh if we could have a copy of his submission to the Department on point-to-point racing because, as one can see, a sum of €900,000 was paid out for point-to-point prize winning. I questioned where would the money go or be spent if point-to-point races were not run?

Equally, we now see a situation arising where our point-to-point entrants are going elsewhere. They should be racing in this State but we are not open because we have no further plan to get us out of level 5. The problem now is that these horses are being brought to the UK to take part in point-to-point races. I did ask to see the submission that was made, as they are the representatives for the horse industry.

Equally, we asked about salaries. There is very little transparency about salaries in the accounts and HRI used something it states it submitted to the Department outlining that it has some form of an amnesty. My understanding, and maybe the Comptroller and Auditor General will clarify this, was that this was only pertinent because it was making out there was some commercial sensitivity. It is the only organisation. Again, my understanding was that it was to be provided to the board and back to the Committee of Public Accounts as to how the salaries were paid, and the breakdown of those.