Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 December 2013
14. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he has taken to address issues of concern regarding corporate governance in the Irish Greyhound Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53074/13]
View answerBord na gCon is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958, to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. Operational matters are the responsibility of its board and CEO.
The Board is also responsible for ensuring that the organisation has systems and procedures in place to ensure adherence to best practice in regard to corporate governance. Bord na gCon is required to act in accordance with its statutory obligations, the “Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies” and with Government policy.
As Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine I am responsible for appointing the Chairman of Board na gCon. The position of Chairman of Board na gCon was vacated on 16th February 2011 following the retirement of the then Chairman. Recognising the importance of the role of Chairman, one of my earliest decisions, taken shortly after my appointment as Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine was, on 12th April 2011, to appoint the current Chairman.
In terms of oversight, my Department monitors the compliance of Bord na gCon with its responsibilities in a number of ways, including by meeting with Bord na gCon at least bi-annually to discuss matters of mutual interest, and obtain assurance in relation to compliance with corporate governance standards. Issues arising from this forum are dealt with as required.
In addition, the Chairman of Bord na gCon, in accordance with the paragraph 13.1 of the “Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies” is required to submit a comprehensive report covering a wide range of governance issues and confirms the Group’s compliance with the Code. Any non-compliances must be explained, if they arise, and the appropriate corrective actions outlined.
In relation to governance, Bord na gCon is required to have an Internal Auditor and an Internal Audit Committee and fulfils this requirement.
Furthermore, the Annual Report and Accounts of Bord na gCon are independently audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General. The Comptroller and Auditor General reports by exception if the statement of internal financial control does not reflect Bord na gCon’s compliance with the “Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies”. Officials from my Department examine the Annual Reports, the C&AGs report, the Chairman’s Report to the Minister (referred to above) and instigate follow-up action as appropriate.
On the basis of a model adopted with a number of agencies under the aegis of my Department, including Coillte, BIM and HRI, I recently announced my intention to commission a review of Bord Na gCon.
This review is being undertaken to ensure that the governance and administrative structures supporting the industry remain appropriate and fully effective in the modern operating environment. It will assess the current legislative framework, governance structures, the structure and size of the board, and a number of other matters.
Tenders for the review were sought through a public procurement process, a preferred bidder has been identified and I am happy to report that it is expected that the contract will be signed shortly.
