Vol. 402 No. 6
10 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will outline his policy in regard to the appointment to the board of the National Stud of directors who are involved in businesses which are in competition with the National Stud.
I consider it desirable that those appointed as directors of the Irish National Stud Company Limited should have some experience of the bloodstock industry. I am not aware that the practice of appointing such people has resulted in any conflict of interest. The articles of association of the stud company do not prescribe any qualifications for the appointment of directors.
Do I take it that when the next board of directors are appointed they will not be in competition with the National Stud?
I do not accept that any of them at this point is involved in a business which is in competition with the National Stud. The articles of association do not require them to have any specific qualification, and certainly do not disqualify people simply because they have an interest in the horse industry. In one form or another these people would be seen to be people with very suitable experience.
Will the Minister indicate to the House whether he envisages a situation where a person appointed to the board could be in a business which will be in competition with the activities of the board? In that situation, what would be the consequences?
I am not prepared to speculate as to whether a situation might ever arise and on what might be the consequences if it did. That is all fantasy. I am not prepared to answer the question.
The Minister did not answer the question at all.
