Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine to hear updates on reports on Horse Racing in Ireland and Independent Review of the IHRB Equine Anti-Doping Programme

The meeting at 5.30pm in Committee Room 3 of Leinster House will hear from officials from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and representatives from the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) and Horse Racing Ireland (HRI).

Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Jackie Cahill said: “The Committee published its report ‘Horse Racing in Ireland’ in November 2021 following a thorough examination of the sector with key stakeholders. The recommendations we made in that report covered governance of horse racing industry bodies, the integrity of drug testing procedures, CCTV at racecourses and equine traceability. We also sought an independent review of the horse racing industry by an outside body to ensure that Ireland’s drug testing procedures match international best practices.

“The Committee welcomes this opportunity to review the progress made in the last six months, both in terms of the recommendation made in our own report and the Independent Review of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board’s Equine Anti-Doping Programme conducted by Dr Craig Suann, a former chief veterinary officer of Racing New South Wales in Australia. We look forward to a wide-ranging discussion with the Department officials and the representatives of Horse Racing Ireland and the IHRB on the issues raised in both reports and related matters.”

The Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine has 14 Members, nine from the Dáil and five from the Seanad.

The meeting in Committee Room 3 can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.