Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 March 2024
159. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to confirm that the interactions he or his officials had with new appointees at that time to Horse Sport Ireland in November or December 2022; if he or his officials encouraged those board members to cease the High Court action launched by the previous board of the Horse Sport Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11076/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing the resignation of the Directors of Horse Sport Ireland (HSI), including the Chairman, in the latter end of 2022, I moved quickly to appoint a number of interim Directors to the Board of HSI. Accordingly, On Thursday 17th November 2022, in consultation with Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Catherine Martin TD and Minister of State for Sport and the Gaeltacht Jack Chambers TD, I appointed an interim chairman and three board members. Mr. Michael Dowling, former chair of Kerry Group PLC, as interim chair and Professor Niamh Brennan, Professor of Management and Corporate Governance at UCD, Ms. Zoe Kavanagh, Chief Executive Officer of the National Dairy Council, and Dr. Kevin Smyth, former Chief Financial Officer at my Department. This interim Board has provided stability to HSI and will remain in place until after the Paris Olympics in 2024.
Any decisions concerning the High Court action referred to were a matter for the Board of HSI.
