Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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That gets to the heart of it. We have repeated correspondence stating the decision was ratified by the Department based on a business plan from the board. The Minister now knows that it was not a plan from the board. However, he seems to be saying that it was not a plan but that they wanted Mr. Kavanagh, that that was their strategy - they wanted him. However, that does not, for example, justify why the position was not filled by way of open competition. Was there a justification? In fairness, the Minister's officials wrote to Horse Racing Ireland in March of this year and explained that the salary was way above the salary cap. Was there a justification in the business plan for why this individual would not only get a third term without there being an open competition but would get it on a salary in excess of the cap, when the Minister's officials had already warned about it? Was that justified? If it was not justified, why did the Minister not use the opportunity to pipe up on behalf of the taxpayer and say that it was not really the way we want things done in this day and age? While I absolutely agree that there are questions for Horse Racing Ireland, there are questions for the Minister and his Department as well.