Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 274: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number of ministerial appointees to the HRI board; the mechanism of his Department in seeking nominations from the various interested associations or representative bodies; the details of the verification of such members by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7721/05]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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Horse Racing Ireland, HRI, was established as the statutory body with responsibility for the horseracing industry under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001. Under the terms of the Horse Racing Ireland (Membership) Act 2001, which amended the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001, the members of the board of HRI, which consists of a chairman and 13 ordinary members, are appointed by the Minister.

Of the 13 ordinary members, the Act provides for the racing regulatory body to nominate five for appointment and one nomination for appointment from each of the following interests: authorised racecourses, racehorse owners, racehorse trainers, racehorse breeders, authorised bookmakers and a representative of persons employed in the horse racing industry.

The remaining two members are appointed directly by the Minister from persons employed directly in the horse racing industry and the horseracing industry in Northern Ireland.

The term of office of the chairman is five years while an ordinary member's term of office is four years. On the first, second and third anniversaries of the establishment of HRI, three of the ordinary members retired. These were decided by lot. After the third anniversary the members to retire in any year are those who have been longest in office since their last appointment. A member of the board of HRI shall not serve for more than two consecutive terms.

All initial appointments to the board of HRI were made on December 18 2001. Each subsequent year prior to December, HRI informs my Department of the names of those members who are due to retire. The relevant body is requested to forward to my Department nominations for the board taking into account the Government policy requirement regarding gender balance on State bodies.