Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

I thank the Minister for Finance for an answer to a parliamentary question provided last night, which I will share with the House. I asked the Minister for Finance:

. . . if, in view of the nationalisation of Anglo-Irish Bank, it is intended to proceed with the sponsorship of the Anglo-Irish Novices Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival 2009; the amount of sponsorship involved; if it is intended to provide corporate hospitality at the meeting in connection with the race;

The Minister stated:

Anglo Irish Bank is being run on an arm's length commercial basis. Accordingly, normal commercial decisions, which include decisions on corporate sponsorship, are a matter for the board of Anglo.

Notwithstanding this I am informed that Anglo is not sponsoring the Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham this year, nor will there be any corporate sponsorship.

So there we are, "goodbye to all that".

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