Written answers

Thursday, 25 June 2015

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Bord na gCon Administration

Photo of Niall CollinsNiall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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118. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware that the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General has a note attached to the 2013 Irish Greyhound Board accounts stating that breaches of procurement guidelines continue at the Irish Greyhound Board, and that this is the third year in a row that the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General has pointed out this breach; if ministerial permission has been granted to breach these guidelines; if he is satisfied with this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25646/15]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Bord na gCon is a statutory body responsible for the regulation of greyhound racing under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958. It is required to conduct its business in accordance with public procurement and other rules. I am aware of the matter referred to by the Deputy. In December 2013 my Department commissioned Indecon consultants to carry out a review certain matters relating to Bord na gCon, including matters relating to governance, finance, regulation and welfare.

That review noted the C&AG’s findings in relation to procurement, but also indicated that Bord na gCon had improved its procurement function by appointing a procurement officer in August 2013. I understand from Bord na gCon that a significant amount of work has been undertaken since then, including the development and introduction of new protocols relating to the purchase of goods and services, a review of procurement policies and procedures to ensure compliance with European and National legislation and Code of Corporate Governance.

Photo of Niall CollinsNiall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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119. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware that the 2013 Irish Greyhound Board accounts showed a loss of €120,000; that the Secretary General of his Department (details supplied) stated at a recent meeting of the Committee of Public Accounts that the situation for 2014 had deteriorated even further, with losses of €986,000; that the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General also advises in the 2013 accounts that the Irish Greyhound Board will require increased funding; what the estimated increase in funding required to keep Irish Greyhound Board solvent over the next five years is; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25647/15]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that I am anxious that Bord na gCon should strengthen its overall financial position and reduce its borrowings over time. Indeed it was in this context that when commissioning the Indecon Report in relation to Bord na gCon, I specifically asked that matters relating to finance be examined. That report makes a number of recommendations in this regard, including in relation to asset disposals, and I am assured by Bord na gCon that it is progressing the implementation of those recommendations. Notwithstanding this, I have received assurances from Bord na gCon that at all times since March 2012 it has been solvent and operating within agreed bank facilities in relation to liquidity. It has also assured me that it has neither breached its approved bank borrowing limit of €25m at any stage since March 2012, nor requested any increase to the agreed bank facilities.

The deputy will be aware that I have provided an additional €2.756 million to Bord na gCon in 2015 for the support of the greyhound sector. This brings the total provision for Bord na gCon for 2015 to €13.6m. I am also assured that the Bord is taking the necessary steps to improve its financial position, and in this regard I will continue to carefully monitor its progress in implementing the Indecon recommendations.

Photo of Niall CollinsNiall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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120. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware that the Sunday Independent of 14 June 2015 carried an article stating that the Irish Greyhound Board was considering taking legal action against a United Kingdom-based company (details supplied) for unpaid sponsorship; that this sponsorship deal with the company was announced as the biggest ever in the Irish greyhound industry; that he commended the Irish Greyhound Board on receiving it, and that he was represented at the launch; in view of this, if he is satisfied with the way the Irish Greyhound Board and its executive behaved during this sponsorship deal; the amount of money the company actually paid for this deal, which greyhound owners were told was worth €750,000; the amount now outstanding; considering that the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General has stated that the Irish Greyhound Board will require further increased funding from the taxpayer just to survive, if he will approve this legal action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25648/15]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The matter referred to by the Deputy is an operational matter for Bord na gCon. However, I would expect Board na gCon to take all appropriate action to recover any sums owing to it, in order to protect its financial interests and those of the taxpayer. Bord na gCon does not require my approval to initiate legal proceedings.

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