Results 6,421-6,440 of 23,975 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2022: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (23 Nov 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I read all of the reports that come out, but it is something to which I would have to give further consideration and thought before having a definitive position on it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2022: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (23 Nov 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I will come back with a written answer on that. It is something on which I would need to get more detail and come back directly.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2022: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (23 Nov 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The objective of the ICC's work at the moment, with the registration software system that is being put in place, is to capture that information and have it clearly available.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2022: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (23 Nov 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: What I am saying is that we can get more information specifically on that. I do not run the ICC stud book. I am not a full expert on all of the ins and outs and minute details in relation to it. The plan here and what the ICC is working on, as well as the software it is adjusting and upgrading at the moment, is with the objective of having and capturing a lot of these data. That is the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2022: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (23 Nov 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: It is important that we have as much information available as possible. As for the plans around what that can capture, it is welcome that it is under way and is being expedited. We can liaise further with the specific detail around it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2022: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (23 Nov 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: There has been massive work done and tremendous progress in relation to putting in place the rehoming approach. It is really welcome. Great work is being done by those who are rehoming as well. All of those should be supported. It is really important work. There has been progress in how it has evolved. Two years ago over, 1,700 greyhounds were rehomed. With IRGT assistance it was up...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2022: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (23 Nov 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The important thing here is the standard of care and welfare that is provided by the rehoming organisations. Their view otherwise is irrelevant to the level of care. I know that Rásaíocht Con Éireann is supporting it. It is something that we are supporting strongly in terms of Government funding in relation to ensuring that there is traceability and that there is rehoming....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2022: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (23 Nov 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Could the Senator repeat that please?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2022: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (23 Nov 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: It was a unique situation in 2021 because of Covid and given that tracks were closed for most of the year. Across all aspects of our lives, 2021 was a unique situation. We have seen improvement this year in racing attendances. The recent Irish Greyhound Derby was one of the best attended in many years. As with other organisations and everything else we have been doing, working to recover...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2022: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (23 Nov 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The key thing is the welfare and wellbeing of the dogs and ensuring that the systems are in place to care for them throughout their lives. I know there has been a strong relationship between Britain and Ireland over the years, like there is with so many other things.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2022: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (23 Nov 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: The new strategic plan for RCÉ is due in the first quarter of next year. This will be the appropriate place to consider this matter. There is also a challenge with regard to the 2017 Preferred Results report. I understand the board of RCÉ had concerns regarding the data on which the report's recommendations were based.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2022: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (23 Nov 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: This is important to today's discussions. It chose not to adopt it as a policy. My understanding and advice are that the report might be subject to legal proceedings. This precludes me from commenting on it. We can continue to engage as appropriate but with regard to this advice, it is something I have to be cognisant at present.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2022: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (23 Nov 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Discussions on the strategic reviews and strategic plans are the place to tease out all of these matters. RCÉ will present a new strategic plan in the first quarter of next year. It will engage with me and the team on this. All issues should be considered as part of this. It is important that the strategy we have is robust and makes sense for the country and that the welfare of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2022: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (23 Nov 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Senator Daly. I know he has a very strong understanding and experience of the sector. Where there are ideas, suggestions and proposals, I am very happy to consider them and reflect on them. As Minister I appoint members to the board of HRI. There is also industry representation from the various sectors of the industry and they play a role in bringing all of the strands of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2022: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (23 Nov 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: We are not sure on that point but I expect it did. It was a report that looked at the full economic value of the industry, the full range of employment and the full economic benefit. It would be incongruous for it to not include the economic activity related to stallion fees, which are a massive part of the sector and an important part because of where they place us in breeding worldwide. ...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2022: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (23 Nov 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: It is important the expenditure is fully scrutinised and assessed for its value for money. There is an ongoing process between the Department and both HRI and RCÉ on that. There are strategic plans put in place and then closely monitored, so we are doing that. Sometimes one can question the value for money of value-for-money reports as well. It is important that should be strong...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2022: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (23 Nov 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputy, the Cathaoirleach and all on the committee for their work on that and for putting that report together. The first recommendation the Deputy referred to was the one relating to the board's composition with regard to independence and gender balance. The IHRB recently informed me that it has appointed Ms Angela Flanagan as its first independent director. She is due to take...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2022: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (23 Nov 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: She will be a member of the board.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2022: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (23 Nov 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2022: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (23 Nov 2022)

Charlie McConalogue: Regarding the reporting of salary details in audited financial statements, the IHRB has also informed the Department that it is its intention that any future contracts of employment will include the provision that employee income bands can be made publicly available. I have informed the IHRB, HRI and the Irish National Stud that the interests of the three bodies, in terms of greater...