Results 1,701-1,720 of 4,350 for speaker:Bobby Aylward

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon: Financial Statements 2015 (Resumed) (18 May 2017)

Bobby Aylward: In 2015 the Irish Greyhound Board received €13.6 million from this fund, an increase of €2.85 million from 2014. However, the board reduced the prize money by €800,000 instead of increasing it. Why was that? It got more money but the witnesses will only come back and tell me the same story again, that it was caused by debt servicing. However, the board was hitting the...

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon: Financial Statements 2015 (Resumed) (18 May 2017)

Bobby Aylward: It was reduced by €800,000 according to the figures I have.

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon: Financial Statements 2015 (Resumed) (18 May 2017)

Bobby Aylward: That is what I have.

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon: Financial Statements 2015 (Resumed) (18 May 2017)

Bobby Aylward: I have figures that in 2014 the board received €10.8 million funding, of which it paid €5.3 million in prize money, which is 49% of the money going to prize money. In 2015 it received €13.6 million funding and paid €4.5 million in prize money, which is 33% of the funding going to prize money. There is a big reduction even though the IGB got more money. There...

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon: Financial Statements 2015 (Resumed) (18 May 2017)

Bobby Aylward: The problem is the bank debt had to be serviced, and the people depending on the industry had to suffer over it. It came off of their backs.

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon: Financial Statements 2015 (Resumed) (18 May 2017)

Bobby Aylward: It is a simple as that.

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon: Financial Statements 2015 (Resumed) (18 May 2017)

Bobby Aylward: Can I ask, now that we are-----

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon: Financial Statements 2015 (Resumed) (18 May 2017)

Bobby Aylward: For the future, when this burden is off the board's back, will it increase prize money back to €10.5 million? There is a problem at present and a strike. If the prize money was increased, and the board got back into the system the people it wants to return, which the board can do by giving prize money, it would sort out the problems it has, and it would also solve the problem at...

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon: Financial Statements 2015 (Resumed) (18 May 2017)

Bobby Aylward: To save the greyhound business. Is that what Mr. Meaney is saying?

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon: Financial Statements 2015 (Resumed) (18 May 2017)

Bobby Aylward: I want to ask about the Indecon report, which I will direct at Mr. Gleeson. Aidan O'Driscoll stated at a meeting of this committee in February that the IGB raised quite a bit of income. My understanding is that recent years have been more successful in raising funds through the operation of the food and beverage offering at race tracks. Has the Secretary General and the Department looked...

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon: Financial Statements 2015 (Resumed) (18 May 2017)

Bobby Aylward: Does Mr. Gleeson think it would be a good idea to have a member from the Department?

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon: Financial Statements 2015 (Resumed) (18 May 2017)

Bobby Aylward: Yes.

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon: Financial Statements 2015 (Resumed) (18 May 2017)

Bobby Aylward: Would it be preferable when there is so much money? We are speaking about €14 million being given in the coming year to the IGB. Would it not be right and proper to have someone from the Department on the board to ensure the board is spending the money properly and can report directly back to the Department? Mr. Gleeson said he meets the IGB only once a year. Only for the...

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon: Financial Statements 2015 (Resumed) (18 May 2017)

Bobby Aylward: How would it be a conflict of interest when €14.5 million of taxpayers' money is being spent? The person would be there to make sure it is being spent properly.

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon: Financial Statements 2015 (Resumed) (18 May 2017)

Bobby Aylward: Is Mr. Gleeson happy with the oversight at present? Is he happy that everything is okay and above board, or does he think there should be more scrutiny?

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon: Financial Statements 2015 (Resumed) (18 May 2017)

Bobby Aylward: I have one more question. Now that the debt monkey is off the back of the IGB, how does it intend to invest in stadiums and tracks throughout the country? Does it have a priority list? I am speaking about Kilkenny, Waterford and Clonmel in my area. Is there a priority list? How does it intend to progress upgrading all of these tracks?

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon: Financial Statements 2015 (Resumed) (18 May 2017)

Bobby Aylward: I hope the IGB does not do what it did in Limerick.

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon: Financial Statements 2015 (Resumed) (18 May 2017)

Bobby Aylward: What about the smaller stadium and tracks?

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon: Financial Statements 2015 (Resumed) (18 May 2017)

Bobby Aylward: Is the IGB giving a commitment for 2017 that when the debt is gone prize money will increase back to approximately €10 million?

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon: Financial Statements 2015 (Resumed) (18 May 2017)

Bobby Aylward: I know Mr. Meaney is not going to give exact figures.