Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have not seen any evidence to suggest the public moneys have not been used for horse racing projects and I am not suggesting it. However, given that the board is made up of people who have a stake in the industry and do not have professional expertise in corporate governance, what assurances do we have that some interests are not being promoted over others? That is the issue. Some projects, sweetheart deals or pet causes - we can call them what we like - are being pushed, while the greater good of the horse racing industry, in its broadest sense, is not being promoted. I am not the only one who has raised that question or concern. Many people with a real commitment to horse racing and who are involved at various levels are also raising it. There is also the high turnover of staff. A huge number of people are being lost and there are serious workplace claims and so on. Something is not right in the organisation. To me, the best way to protect all jobs and all of the good people who want to be involved for the right reasons is to have an independent inquiry into corporate governance at HRI in the past five years. That would give us a good picture of what is really going on.

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