Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 March 2024
153. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to confirm the contractors/employees named in the tender submitted by the Irish Horse Board in April 2022 for sport horse marketing services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11070/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra154. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline the individual qualifications of the successful team involved from the Irish Horse Board, which was announced in September 2022 as the winning bidder for sport horse marketing services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11071/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 153 and 154 together.
A complaint was lodged with the EU Commission in March 2018 in relation to alleged unlawful state aid paid to Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) by my Department. Following communications between my Department and the Commission, it was agreed that a public procurement process would take place in 2022 in respect of certain services namely, studbooks, national breeding and marketing.
Following the tendering process the provision of Marketing Services for the Sport Horse Sector was awarded to the Irish Horse Board.
The tender documentation for the provision of marketing services specified a number of criteria including that the proposed team must include at least one member or contractor with a qualification in Marketing, Business Studies, or Business Management or other relevant disciplines at Diploma/ Certificate/Degree level.
The Irish Horse Board met this criterion.
