Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) is a company limited by guarantee. It is not a State Body established by legislation and it is operationally independent from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The governance and financial controls carried out by the Department are governed by DPER Circular 13/2014.
HSI is under the control of a Board which comprises a mix of representational industry-elected members, a Chairman and three Government appointees selected along PAS lines.
The Ministerial nominees are appointed for five years with eligibility for reappointment by the Minister for a successive term. The industry appointed nominees are appointed for three years, with eligibility for a successive term following an election process, as set out in the Horse Sport Ireland Constitution.
In 2017, the Indecon Report, as commissioned by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine was published. This was an external Corporate Governance review of the organisation. There were a sizeable number of recommendations, all of which have been implemented. I am advised that the organisation is also complaint with the Sport Ireland Code of Governance.
Accounts are professionally audited externally and an annual report published. There is a clear divide between Board of Directors and Executive. A recruitment campaign for the post of CEO is currently on-going.
There is a Service Level Agreement in place with the Department in respect of an annual block grant the organisation receives. There is an appropriate risk management framework in place, including a Risk Register and asset inventory is held. A financial control check is applied by the Department to monies provided on an annual basis.
Horse Sport Ireland have an appointed external firm as their Internal Auditors, who undertake annual internal audits of the organisation. HSI publish annual accounts though it is not legally obliged to do so.
At all times, Horse Sport Ireland must adhere to the conditions laid down in DEPR Circular 13/2014. HSI is defined as 'Grantee' under that Circular. Clause 10 in the Service Level Agreement makes provision for checks to be carried out on HSI, regarding legal, tax registration, employment regulations and any other statutory requirements, regulations and byelaws, if those checks are deemed necessary.
The Deputy will appreciate that the decision to choose a site and venue for its Headquarters and Centre of Excellence is clearly one for the Board of HSI. The Department is examining the matter at present to ensure that HSI has satisfied itself that the transaction proposed is consistent with public procurement rules.
