Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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415. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if officials in his Department were aware that the board of HRI did not know that the chairman of the board had been making representations on its behalf to his Department regarding the reappointment of the CEO without its knowledge before the reappointment was approved by his Department. [33360/16]

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.

My Department's natural assumption upon receipt of a letter from the chairman was that the question of reappointment of the CEO had been discussed at the board.  A final HRI board decision on the reappointment or agreement on a contract could not have been made until the necessary Ministerial consents had been obtained.

I have indicated previously that it would have been more appropriate for the board to have had a full discussion on the case made by the chairman prior to its submission. I understand that the chairman accepts this. I further understand that the board has issued a statement confirming that the chairman’s actions and intentions reflected its views regarding the CEO’s contract, but recognising that a more collegiate approach would have improved the process. The Board's statement also indicated that the best result was achieved for HRI and the industry with the completion of a new contract. 

 It was never the case that an appointment could have been made other than by the Board.