Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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19. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied with the performance of the members of Bord na gCon and of its chairperson since March 2011; his views that the skills gap identified in the 2014 Indecon report has been addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26106/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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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.

In this context Bord na gCon has informed me that it is continuing to address the skills gap referred to in the Indecon report. In February 2014 a new member with financial/accountancy expertise was appointed to the Board followed by the appointment in May 2014 of a new Board member with veterinary and legal expertise. In terms of strengthening its organisation at executive level, Bord na gCon has expanded its risk management committee to include the Chief Executive Officer and all of the senior executive management team. This executive risk management team is supported by a risk facilitator who is tasked with maintaining a risk register as identified by the risk management committee.

A new executive position of Director of Racing, Governance and Compliance was filled in June 2014. The function of the executive concerned is to ensure effective compliance by all stakeholders in the Irish greyhound industry with the current regulatory system and to further develop and implement a world class regulatory code to ensure the highest standard of integrity of greyhound racing in Ireland.

Furthermore, a Director of Tote and Wagering was appointed in November 2013 and a Director of Commercial Operations appointed in April 2013.

Indecon’s recommendation to further strengthen the skill set of the Board will be addressed as part of the new procedures for appointments to State Boards to be carried out by the Public Appointments Service when vacancies at Board level are filled. In this regard my Department is at present finalising job specifications for board vacancies and I expect that these vacancies will be advertised on PAS in the very near future. I have already taken steps to strenghthen the skill set of the board through the appointment in May, 2014, of a person with veterinary and legal expertise.

I am satisfied that the Chairman and Board of Bord na gCon continue to discharge their functions and that against the background of a difficult operating environment over the past number of years, they are taking positive steps to address the issues identified in the Indecon Report, including those in relation to finance, governance and integrity services.