Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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55. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to a report (details supplied) in particular the recommendation that Horse Racing Ireland should have no role in the negotiation of pay, terms, conditions and representation for stable and stud staff involved in Irish horseracing. [41495/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I can confirm that my officials received the report titled "A Preliminary Report into the Pay, Terms Conditions and Representation for Stable and Stud Staff in the Horseracing Industry in Ireland" as commissioned by "Independents4Change"  on the 26th September.

Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) is a commercial state body responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry.

While the report has been passed to HRI for their consideration, this is a matter ultimately for the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation.

Horse Racing Ireland has informed me that they have had two meetings to date at Chief Executive Officer level with the Director General of the Workplace Relations Commission, which is under the aegis of the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, and a further three working meetings at HR Director level.

Horse Racing Ireland and the Workplace Relations Commission have agreed to undertake a joint initiative of education and information on employment law for employers in the sector. I understand that, working with Teagasc, similar exercises have been carried out for other sectors within Agriculture. Work on this project has commenced and has already involved the employer groups within the industry, with a view to being completed by Quarter 1, 2018.

Horse Racing Ireland has also been appraised by the Workplace Relations Commission of the current status of its programme of inspections within the sector.