Mr. Mark Bolger:

I am the director of finance of HSI. Damian McDonald, our chief executive officer, sends his apologies as he is travelling to Switzerland in preparation for the court of arbitration case that will hear the appeal made by HSI and Cian O’Connor in seeking an Olympic place for the Irish show jumping team. That hearing will take place on Wednesday, 16 December.

HSI was established in 2007 when the Equestrian Federation of Ireland and the Irish Horse Board were amalgamated following the publication of the Dowling report, which recommended new governance structures for the sport horse industry. HSI is responsible for devising and implementing strategies for the development and promotion of an internationally competitive Irish sport horse industry. HSI is the governing body for the sport horse sector in Ireland and is recognised by the Fédération Equestre Internationale, FEI, which is the international governing body, Sport Ireland, the Irish Olympic Council and Sport Northern Ireland.

Harness racing, also known as trotting, is a form of horse racing. This racing code is regulated in Ireland by the IHRA. The other forms of horse racing in Ireland are National Hunt and flat racing. On 10 November, the IHRA presented this committee with the details of its activities, the nature of the sport and the size of the industry. The IHRA is a professional and progressive organisation seeking to develop this industry in Ireland and its reach abroad. The IHRA became an affiliate of HSI in 2013. It sought recognition by HSI, as Horse Racing Ireland, HRI, did not see it as part of its remit. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine had also asked if HSI could give help to the IHRA.

The HSI board agreed to grant affiliation to the IHRA as a temporary measure with the intention that the IHRA would in time become more appropriately aligned with horse racing governance structures. It was clearly understood between the parties that HSI would help the IHRA where it could. Access to race courses, funding and betting infrastructures, however, were areas that HSI could not help with. It was agreed that HSI would assist the IHRA by facilitating dialogue with HRI. HSI does not have responsibility for the governance of horse racing in Ireland. HSI does not own any lands or race courses, nor is it involved with integrity and betting regulations at race courses. The IHRA has always recognised this, and because of that has never sought financial funding from HSI. The nature of HSI’s funding does not extend to cover horse racing activities. HSI received State funding of approximately €3.6 million in 2015. In 2015 the State allocated approximately €54.4 million towards HRI’s horse racing activities.

HSI understands that the IHRA wishes to work collaboratively with HRI. It is also understood that the IHRA also seeks to enter into commercial arrangements with Dundalk racecourse to provide access in the interim to an all-weather race course facility, which it views as critical to the promotion and development of harness racing. The IHRA is seeking funding for ongoing business development, veterinary needs and long-term funding to develop dedicated tracks for trotting. Recently, the IHRA was approved as the passport issuing organisation, PIO, for the standard bred breed in Ireland by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. HSI is in the process of finalising agreement with the IHRA to provide administration back up to the IHRA to process the passports on its behalf.

The IHRA is progressing from strength to strength, having staged a successful race day at Dundalk racecourse in September of this year and previously at two race meetings in 2008. Its participation with Le Trot mentoring programme, its active membership of the World Federation of Trotting and its application to become a member of the European Trotting Union are some of its recent milestones. An Irish horse recently became the first international harness racing horse to race in the Inter Dominion race in Australia.