Avril Doyle
Ceist:184 Mrs. Doyle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the reason a person (details supplied) in County Antrim was not appointed to the new Racing Authority when he was fully acceptable to him. [1618/94]
Written Answers. - Horseracing Authority Appointment.
The legislation for the Irish Horseracing Authority provides for 16 members. Three appointees must be stewards of the governing bodies — Turf Club — Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee — nine are appointed from panels of at least three names submitted by bodies representing the various interests of the industry and four are discretionary appointees of the Minister, of which at least one must be from the industry in Northern Ireland. The idea behind the discretionary appointments is that it enables the Minister to add a small number of people to those who emerge from the nominating process in order to create greater balance, meet special requirements and recognise exceptional talent.
The person named would have been an excellent member of the authority. In view, however, of the need for greater balance, particularly gender balance, in the membership, it was considered that the appointment of another available — and excellent — person from Northern Ireland was more appropriate on this occasion.