Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The horse sports industry is an amazing industry with a very positive story. You would imagine it would attract big international sponsorship, or at least strong Irish sponsorship. It is a good story to tell. Does Mr. Duggan think the public concerns, or the view in some quarters and, more important, in the equestrian quarter, which is the one relevant to HSI, have impacted on the industry's capacity to attract brand sponsorship? I think that may be part of it. A lot of it is about perceptions, and I want to be fair here. I have great time for the witnesses' organisation, and while there have been tough times, as there have been for many organisations, there is always learning. Nevertheless, there is clearly a certain degree of hostility within people very close to this industry and that has to be a concern to the board and to Mr. Duggan as chief executive. In the context of international brand sponsorship, does he think that hostility in any way contributes negatively? I hope these issues will be resolved and, clearly, there is more work to be done.