Results 20,101-20,120 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Minister.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy is seeking to reinsert the wording as it existed prior to the establishment of Horse Racing Ireland in 2001. The registration office functions have moved to HRI and are governed by both HRI directives and the rules of racing. To insert the wording proposed is incorrect and would not reflect the situation post-2001. In other words, what is being proposed essentially switches...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: In the Bill there is no suggestion that the issuing of anything is being transferred, including the registration of hunter certificates. None of the payments going to local hunt clubs at the moment is changed. The only thing that has changed is that the registration of a hunter that would have gone to the national hunt committee is going to the new administrative office and then going back...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: Yes.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: We are trying to do what Deputy Ó Cuív is looking to do.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: I move amendment No. 22:In page 9, line 29, after “of” where it firstly occurs to insert “the”.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: I move amendment No. 24:In page 10, line 27, to delete “rules” and substitute “protocols”. I have engaged with the racing regulatory body and have acceded to its request not to use the word "rules" in this context. The intention is to reserve the word "rules" for the racing regulatory body's rules of racing. This was a sensitive issue for the body and we are...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: I move amendment No. 25:In page 10, line 28, to delete “rules” and substitute “protocols”.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: Yes, I think so.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: I move amendment No. 27:In page 10, line 35, after “directive.” to insert the following:“HRI may dispense with such consultation where it considers there is an urgency to make the directive and shall inform the Racing Regulatory Body accordingly.”. This is another issue that was sensitive for the racing regulatory body. We are trying to clarify what...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: I understand the point that is being made but this is a standard governance arrangement. I will set out the explanation I have and perhaps elaborate on it a little. The legislation ensures all interests of the horse racing industry are represented on the board of HRI. Setting horse racing fixtures is one of the primary functions of HRI and final decisions in this regard need to be ratified...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: Let us read the legislation:(4) The race-fixtures committee shall have not more than 5 members (including a chairman) and shall include at least one representative from the Racing Regulatory Body and one from authorised racecourses with such other members that HRI considers appropriate. (5) The chairman of the race-fixtures committee shall be appointed by HRI. (6) The membership of the...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: Are we reverting to the previous amendment? I can answer those questions.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: I will address the issue that Deputy Penrose raised, as it relates to the previous amendment while still being relevant. HRI has a large board with a broad representation. There will be three members from the Turf Club and breeders, owners, trainers, stable staff and the betting industry will be represented. My role as Minister will be to try to fill knowledge gaps or add more to the...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: I wanted to clarify the points raised because they are legitimate concerns. It is not the case that we have an isolated satellite body that is working on fixtures. It is really a subcommittee that is set up by the board with appropriate people on it who have relevant knowledge. It makes recommendations to the larger board, which ultimately holds the responsibility. That seems a fairly...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: I have some sympathy for the issue raised by Deputy Ferris, but there has to be a contingency here. If, for example, there were multiple representative bodies and they could not agree, what would happen? Somebody needs to put together a constituency and a mechanism for electing or nominating members of this committee. The idea of the industry services committee is to identify and improve...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: The sector may not be coherent enough to do that.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: I know the point the Deputy is making, but he seems to have great faith in the broader services sector's capacity to organise itself tightly, and to put a fair, democratic system of election or appointment in place. That is also a structure that could be influenced by people within the industry who are not part of HRI and who may want to have a strong voice through the services committee....

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: Subject to legal checks, I could certainly propose a wording for Report Stage that would state "HRI shall consult widely before determining the constituencies and method of election".

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: It will consult the representative bodies, etc., before determining "the constituencies and method of election". I think "consult widely" covers that. In other words, it will have to go out and listen.