Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 12: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the action he proposes to take regarding the implementation of the recommendations of the Dalton Report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40886/06]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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On February 1st, 2006, I appointed Mr. Tim Dalton, former Secretary General of the Department of Justice, Equality, and Law Reform, to carry out an independent assessment concerning corporate governance and related matters affecting Bord na gCon. Mr. Dalton delivered his Report on 5th April, 2006.

On 4th July, 2006, the Government approved specific actions to be taken in line with the recommendations of the Dalton Report. These included:

the drafting of legislation, as a matter of urgency, to implement key recommendations made in the Dalton Report relating to the tenure of the Chairman and the Board of Bord na gCon, to increase the size of the Board from seven to nine members, and to arrange for the reconstitution of the Board along these lines as soon as circumstances permit;

an examination of the options for the establishment of a Doping Control Committee as an agency independent of Bord na gCon;

the immediate publication of the Report; and

a root and branch review of the Greyhound Industry Acts 1958-1993 with a view to bringing legislation dealing with the greyhound industry into line with best current practice.

The Report has already been published. The former Chair has resigned, and I have appointed a new Chair, Mr. Dick O'Sullivan and another new member in succession to an outgoing member. The Board of Bord na gCon has sought applications by public advertisement for the position of Chief Executive, and the process of selecting a new CEO is now well advanced.

My Department has prepared an outline General Scheme of the Bill needed to give effect to the changes necessary regarding the tenure of the Chair, and the size and composition of the Board of Bord na gCon, and the matter has been referred to the Office of the Attorney General for the preparation of a more definitive text for the Bill. This Bill will also address the question of establishing a separate Doping Control function.

A more wide-ranging and fundamental review of the Greyhound Industry Acts is now commencing, and I will revert to Government with the results of that exercise in due course.