Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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548. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will initiate an external independent audit of racecourse attendance in order to verify the claims being made by Horse Racing Ireland in that regard. [2962/17]

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  Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General audits the turnover of HRI subsidiaries which is supported by race meeting attendance data.

Other racecourses, which are independent companies, provide their data to HRI to allow the preparation of attendance figures from a national perspective.

I have no plans to establish a separate audit mechanism for the verification of race attendance figures.

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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549. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has satisfied himself with the independence of two appointees which he recently nominated to Horse Racing Ireland in view of the fact that both persons had a connection with an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2963/17]

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.

I can confirm that the recent appointments to the HRI Board were made in accordance with the Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards. 

HRI have informed me that it operates strict protocols in relation to Board members absenting themselves from decision making on matters in which they have or may be considered as having any potential conflicts of interest.