Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Wednesday, 21 June 2023
Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Horse Sport Industry Strategy: Engagement with Horse Sport Ireland
Mr. Michael Dowling:
Obviously, I cannot comment on what happened before we were appointed to the board since we were not there. I can say, however, that we are - at least, I am - in the process of meeting with every affiliate organisation. There are 30-odd of them, so it is a process which will take some time. I am working my way through it. The object is to listen to them and to address any concerns they have. That process will take most of the year. I am five or six down at this stage, but there are another 20-odd to go. That is one part of it.
There are not, as far as I am aware, issues regarding staff now. I cannot say what the position was in the past because, obviously, we were not there, but my understanding is that the organisation and its staff are working well. It is busy but they are working well. I do not see any evidence of any conflicts in regard to the current team working for us. As a board, we have considerable confidence in the team that is there now.