The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney, TD, today launched, through notices placed in the press, a stakeholders’ consultation process as part of the Review his Department is commissioning into certain aspects of the Irish Horse Racing Industry.
The Review is intended to provide the basis for a renewed impetus to the development of the horse racing industry. It will cover a number of crucial aspects of the industry – legislation; governance structures; the size, structure and nomination process for appointments to the Board of Horse Racing Ireland; streamlining of functions and the funding model for the industry.
The Minister explained "my Department, as part of the planned Review, is facilitating a stakeholder consultation process by seeking written submissions from interested parties. Submissions received will be provided, without comment, to the successful tenderer for consideration and assessment in the context of carrying out the Review.The closing date for receipt of submissions from stakeholders is 17th February 2012."
Stakeholders should note that any information provided to the Department may be published or otherwise disclosed.
The Minister urged stakeholders "to avail of this opportunity to have their views considered in the review process" adding that this public consultation was being launched with the intention "of affording all stakeholders an opportunity to put forward their views".
Note for Editors:
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney, TD, has invited the submission of tenders for a review of certain aspects of the Irish Horse Racing. The Call for Tenders document is available on
www.etenders.gov.ie .
The Terms of Reference for the Review are as follows:
1. Review the legislation governing the Irish horse racing industry, in particular the Irish Horseracing Industry Act 1994, the Horse and Greyhound Racing (Betting Charges and Levies) Act, 1999, Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001 and the Horse Racing Ireland (Membership) Act 2001, and assess whether they provide the most appropriate governance structures for the horseracing industry.
2. Evaluate whether the Horse Racing Ireland Board structure, size and nomination process is appropriate and effective. Make recommendations for change, if necessary.
3. Consider the scope for streamlining all of the functions assigned under the legislation having regard to efficiency, effectiveness, economy and independence of regulatory decisions and make recommendations accordingly.
4. Review the current funding arrangements for the industry having regard to funding systems in place in other major racing competitor countries and recommend an appropriate funding structure for the long term development of the sector.
As part of the planned Review the Department is facilitating a stakeholder consultation process by seeking written submissions from interested parties by 17th February 2012.
Submissions should be forwarded to Ms. Emer McGeough, State Bodies Section, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Farnham Street, Cavan, or electronically by e-mail to racingreview@agriculture.gov.ie .