Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of the fact that for many years employees of his Department were seconded to the Irish Horse Board Cooperative Society Ltd and Horse Sport Ireland Ltd to administer the Irish Sport Horse Studbook if he will confirm whether this practice continues; if there are other cases in which civil servants have been seconded to work in private companies and their salaries have continued to be paid by the Irish taxpayer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12770/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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In answer to the Deputy’s question, I can confirm that two Executive Officers have been seconded from my Department since 1994 to Horse Sport Ireland Limited. The salaries in respect of the two individuals are recouped from Horse Sport Ireland Limited.

One Superintending Veterinary Inspector has been seconded to Animal Health Ireland as its Chief Executive in September 2009 and my Department continues to pay his salary as part of its annual subvention to AHI. No other civil servants have been seconded from my Department to work in private companies.