Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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344. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has ever requested the Irish Greyhound Board to desist from breaking the law or guidelines regarding public procurement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26439/15]

Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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345. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of the fact that the Comptroller and Auditor General has stated that the Irish Greyhound Board is in breach of public procurement guidelines in the 2013 accounts, and in view of the fact that the board has been in breach of these guidelines since he became Minister, the measures he and his Department have taken to encourage the board to comply with the law and guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26440/15]

Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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346. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm that the Irish Greyhound Board has not breached public procurement guidelines for 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26441/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 344, 345 and 346 together.

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.

As I have already outlined to the Deputy in Parliamentary Question No 25646 of 25 June 2015 my Department commissioned Indecon consultants to carry out a review of 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 EU public Procurement Directive 2004/18/EC(European and National legislation) and the Code of Corporate Governance.

Following on from the publication of the Indecon Report in July 2014, Bord na gCon submitted an action plan in October 2014 with timelines for implementing the 27 recommendations in the Indecon report dealing with governance, finance, regulation and welfare. This action plan has been published on the Bord na gCon website.

Currently Bord na gCon has six procurement projects underway. All requested procurement information and documentation was provided to the C& AG in respect of its 2014 audit and Bord na gCon is currently awaiting the outcome of this audit.

Bord na gCon regularly updates my Department with regard to the implementation of the recommendations in the Indecon report, with a view to ensuring that the greyhound industry can reach its full potential and prosper into the future.