Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 17: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the reason, having included Northern Ireland as part of the development of Horse Sport Ireland, Northern Ireland has been dropped as a participant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40903/06]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 21: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the increase in funding, apart from that funding normally made available to the organisations involved, to be provided for the development and maintenance of Horse Sport Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40902/06]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 38: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the details of the €1.75 million Government funding for Horse Sport Ireland the national governing body for equestrian sport; the prospects for equestrian sport here arising from the development of this body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40816/06]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 17, 21 and 38 together.

On 20th November 2006, following consultation with my colleague, Ms Mary Coughlan TD, the Minister for Agriculture and Food, I announced the establishment of a new Agency — Horse Sport Ireland — which will be responsible for devising and implementing strategies for the development and promotion of an internationally competitive Irish sport horse industry for the breeding, sport and leisure sides.

Horse Sport Ireland has been established following the acceptance by myself and the Minister for Agriculture and Food of proposals contained in a report prepared by Mr. Michael Dowling, former Secretary General of the Department of Agriculture and Food, which recommended new governance structures for horse sport in Ireland. Mr. Dowling consulted extensively with the main sectoral interests, including the Equestrian Federation of Ireland, the Irish Horse Board, the Irish Sports Council, my own Department and the Department of Agriculture and Food in the course of his work. There is widespread support across the sector for these structures which involved the appointment of a Board of Directors comprising of eighteen members. In accordance with the Dowling Report, I have designated an independent Chairman, Mr Joe Walsh TD, in consultation with the Minister for Agriculture and Food. The other seventeen members of the Board have been nominated by their respective organisations.

The Agency will initially be established as a company limited by guarantee under the Companies Acts. It will bring within its remit the functions currently being discharged by the Horse Board. Among the first tasks of the Board will be to draw up a statement of strategy for Horse Sport Ireland and to oversee the appointment of a Chief Executive.

Discussions are continuing with sectoral interests in Northern Ireland with a view to their possible participation in the Horse Sport Ireland structures. There is widespread agreement that Horse Sport Ireland should be an all island body. Most of the organisations affiliated to the Equestrian Federation of Ireland cover the whole island. The Horse Board does not but it has effective working links with the Northern Ireland Horse Board. In this new context those links will be strengthened and formalised with a view ultimately to having a single Horse Board.

There is ongoing cooperation and discussion between my Department and the relevant Departments in Northern Ireland regarding a number of common issues and all-island cooperation. Officials from my Department will continue to explore these issues with their Northern Ireland counterparts including in relation to Horse Sport Ireland.

The Dowling report indicated that an additional €1.75m would be required from the Government for Horse Sport Ireland in 2007. I am pleased that this additional funding was provided in the recently published 2007 Estimates.

I am confident that Horse Sport Ireland will significantly strengthen the horse sport sector, bringing a new common purpose to future development and lead to greater organisational efficiencies which will ultimately enhance Ireland's high standing in sport.