Horse Racing Industry

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 March 2024

Wednesday, 6 March 2024

Ceisteanna (163)

Michael Fitzmaurice

Ceist:

163. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has a view of the anti-competition cases taken by a person at national and European level given that the complaint involved allegations of an anti-competitive relationship between his Department, HSI and the Irish Horse Board; his view that the tender decision will end speculation from WSI of anti-competitive practices; the current status of anti-competitive actions taken against his Department both at within the European Commission and the Consumer Protection Commission in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11080/24]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

A complaint was lodged with the EU Commission in March 2018 in relation to alleged unlawful state aid paid to the named organisations by my Department. The complainant stated that the named organisation received state funding for breeding initiatives and the opportunity to avail of this funding was not made available for other studbooks. The complainant argued that the organisation was also granted the operations of the studbooks (Irish Sport Horse and Irish Draught) without a public tender and fair competition process. Other funding provided by this Department to the organisation under an ‘Equine Technical Support Scheme’ did not form part of the complaint. 

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 completion of the public tender process, contracts in respect of the aforementioned services were awarded to the successful applicants, commencing in January 2023. 

The European Commission has been informed of the outcome of the competitive procurement process. Separately, I have not been informed of any issues raised by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.