andMr. L'Estrange asked the Minister for Agriculture if his attention has been drawn to the refusal by Bord na gCon to submit annual reports to the Oireachtas Library in respect of the Shelbourne Park and Kingdom greyhound racing company for the years 1976 and 1978.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bord na gCon Reports.
14.
Bord na gCon are not required under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958, to submit annual reports to the Oireachtas in respect of Shelbourne Greyhound Stadium Limited or The Kingdom Greyhound Racing Company Limited.
When the Greyhound Act was introduced in 1958 Bord na gCon had no subsidiary companies. Surely a Deputy is entitled to get information on how these companies are running individually and compare losses or profits and expenses with different companies? What is the Minister trying to conceal?
I have nothing to conceal. I understand that the board are not required to furnish this report.
This is a very serious matter and there is widespread discount among greyhound owners.
This is the first I have heard about it.
Will the Minister now tell the House if Bord na gCon directors are supplied with cars?
That is a separate question.
It concerns a very serious matter.
I do not see where it arises in the question, which deals with the presentation of accounts. If I allow this question we could have a full debate on Bord na gCon, which we are not having. Question No. 15.
(Interruptions.)
If the Deputy will put down another question——
I will not put down another question. I am entitled to this information.
I do not have the information.
Did the Minister make any effort to get the information?
Seeing that the Deputy has asked a question, Bord na gCon say that they sought information by letter from the board on 13 February 1980 but the board, when they supplied names, addresses and fees paid to directors, were not prepared to give information in regard to accounts of their subsidiary companies.
I accept that. That is why I put down this question—that I thought the position most unsatisfactory, that Bord na gCon, a State body, are not prepared to furnish accounts of individual companies. This is a very serious principle.
Washington behind closed doors.
I know it may be somewhat embarrassing for the Minister and his colleagues——
The question of order in the House is not influenced.
(Interruptions.)
Certainly there must be money being misplaced somewhere along the line.
For the Deputy's information it is totally a matter for the board.
It is not a matter for the board.
Because there is grave concern amongst greyhound owners, because their expenses are increasing continuously; the fact that the prize money is not keeping pace with inflation, and that there are complaints that the directors are supplied with cars and that they have enormous expense accounts—if that is the case, since this is public money—to whom are they accountable? If they are not accountable to the Minister does he not think it is time the 1958 Greyhound Act was amended so that the public and taxpayers could know where their money is going and how it is being spent?
I will keep it in mind.
The Minister has kept a lot in his mind for many years—
I did not make use of it until about the last five or six years—
(Interruptions.)
Order. Question No. 15.
I will take the matter up with the board.
This matter is of the utmost importance to taxpayers.
The Deputy has repeatedly said that.
There is no use in the Minister saying that he will keep it in mind.
I will take it up with the Board if that will satisfy the Deputy.
And will the Minister let the House know the answer?
No. The Deputy might put down another question.
We will put another question down in a month's time.
Right.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Would the Minister not agree that for Bord na gCon to furnish accounts of the nine tracks bundled into one is meaningless? Would the Minister not arrange that the accounts be presented in such a way that the profits and losses, expenses and incomes for Shelbourne Park, Tralee and all the rest of the tracks are given individually so that they mean something, so that people can see what track is paying, what track is being run at a loss and whether or not expenses are justified?
I will take that matter up with the board also.
Will the Minister now make the reports available, seeing that he is taking the matter up with the board?
We will see.
The Minister was a fast tracker himself; that is why he got a car.