Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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540. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the date on which his Department requested permission from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to extend the contract of the chief executive officer of Horse Racing Ireland by a further five years. [28507/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Horse Racing Ireland is a commercial state body established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001, and is responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry.

Following approval by my predecessor, the Department requested consent, on 15 January 2016, from the Minister of Public Expenditure and Reform for Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) to reappoint the CEO. 

When I took office I considered the matter further as set out in other Parliamentary Question answers.

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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541. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the discussions between his Department and the Department of Finance regarding the latter's stated position in 2011 that the contract governing the second term of the chief executive officer of Horse Racing Ireland should preclude that person from retaining their position when that second term came to an end. [28508/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Decisions were made in 2011 in relation to the previous contract for the CEO of HRI. In 2015 a new submission was made by the Chairman of HRI seeking an exceptional reappointment of the CEO based on a number of business imperatives. Following approval by my predecessor, my Department requested consent from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform on 15 January 2016 and that consent was provided on 24 June 2016.

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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542. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will clarify his statement at the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine on 27 September 2016 regarding amendments to the pay and entitlements of the chief executive officer of Horse Racing Ireland; if he will clarify specifically the amendment of pay and entitlements which took place and when; if those amendments did not encompass basic pay and pension entitlements; if the chief executive officer's pay up to the date that they finished their second term was €191,000 plus €56,000 in pension entitlements; and the details of all pay and entitlements contained in the chief executive officer's new contract. [28509/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) is a commercial state body established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001, and is responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry.

The appointment  of the Chief Executive Officer is a matter for the Board of HRI, subject to the consent of the relevant Ministers.  Under the Irish Horseracing Industry Act, 1994 Section 3: The chief executive shall hold office on and subject to such terms and conditions (including terms and conditions relating to remuneration) as may be approved of by the Authority with the consent of the Minister and Minister for Finance.

In this instance, the consents provided permitted the Board to reappoint the CEO on an exceptional basis, on the basis of a basic salary of €190,773 as per the previous contract, but required the removal of references to the payment of bonus and performance related pay awards, the payment of a car allowance and the payment of directors fees.  I understand the CEO had waived his right to a performance related bonus and had not received one since 2010, nor did he receive any director's fees. The letter conveying these adjustments to the contract was issued on 25th July 2016.

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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543. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason his Department did not insist upon an open competition to fill the role of chief executive officer of Horse Racing Ireland when the incumbent's second term in the role came to an end. [28510/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The appointment of the Chief Executive Officer is a matter for the board of Horse Racing Ireland, subject to the consent of the relevant Ministers.

In the case of Horse Racing Ireland, the Chairman of HRI made a case for an exceptional extension to the term of appointment of the CEO, based on a number of business imperatives. These included the implementation of a five year plan for the industry, HRI's role in the development of the Curragh, and the CEO's occupation of influential positions in a number of international bodies.

In this instance both I and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform accepted the case and provided the necessary consents for an exceptional re-appointment of the CEO by the Board for a period of 5 years following expiry of his contract on 24 September 2016.