Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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211. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to any official communications by letter, e-mail and telephone, including landline and mobile telephone, and including by a person (details supplied), with the chairman, board, the chief executive officer or any other executive member employed by Horse Racing Ireland at an emergency general meeting of the HRI board, held on 27 September 2016, prior to the board of HRI releasing a press release which supported the reappointment of the chief executive of HRI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35246/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I was advised by my department that it had been notified  by HRI that there was to be an EGM  of the HRI board on the date in question. 

I understood that the Board was meeting with a view to discussing the appointment of the CEO and that a further statement might be issued regarding the reappointment of the CEO. The issue of any such statement was of course entirely a matter for the Board and my Department had no role in the matter.

My Department received confirmation that a statement had been agreed after it was approved by the Board.

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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212. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 415 of 8 November 2016, if his position as outlined in his reply still stands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35247/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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My position as outlined in my earlier reply still stands.

The Chairman apologised in his opening address to the Committee for his handling of the matter stating that the CEO appointment process could have been done better and that he takes responsibility for this matter.

The Board of HRI has also indicated that it is satisfied that "the best result for HRI and the industry has been achieved with the successful completion of the new CEO contract".