Horse Sport Ireland

Press Release - 8th November 2006

O'Donoghue announces establishment of Horse Sport Ireland and the designation of Joe Walsh, T.D. as its first Chairman

John O'Donoghue, T.D., Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, following consultation with his colleague Mary Coughlan, T.D., Minister for Agriculture and Food, announces the establishment of a new Agency – Horse Sport Ireland – which will be responsible for devising and implementing strategies for the development and promotion of an internationally competitive Irish sport horse industry (breeding, sport and leisure sides). He is designating Joe Walsh, T.D., as the Chairman of the new Agency.

Horse Sport Ireland is being established following the acceptance by both Ministers of proposals contained in a report prepared by Mr. Michael Dowling, former Secretary General of the Department of Agriculture and Food, which recommended new governance structures for horse sport in Ireland. Mr. Dowling consulted extensively with the main sectoral interests, including the Equestrian Federation of Ireland, the Irish Horse Board, the Irish Sports Council and the Departments of Arts, Sport and Tourism and Agriculture and Food in the course of his work and there is widespread support across the sector for these structures which involve the appointment of a Board of Directors with the following membership:

(a) Eight, representing FEI (International Equestrian Federation)disciplines
(b) Four representing other sport/leisure organisations
(c) Five representing the breeding side of the industry
(d) One independent Chairman to be nominated by the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, in consultation with the Minister for Agriculture and Food

Mr. Joe Walsh, T.D., will be the first Chairman of the Agency. The other seventeen members of the Board have been nominated by their respective organisations and are listed in the Appendix to this press release. The Agency will initially be established as a company limited by guarantee under the Companies Acts. It will bring within its remit the functions currently being discharged by the Horse Board.

Discussions are continuing with sectoral interests in Northern Ireland with a view to their possible participation in the Horse Sport Ireland structures.

Arrangements are being made to convene the inaugural meeting of the Board of Directors at an early date. Among the first tasks of the Board will be to draw up a statement of strategy for Horse Sport Ireland and to oversee the appointment of a Chief Executive.

Minister O'Donoghue said: "Following consultation with my colleague Minister Mary Coughlan TD, Minister for Agriculture and Food, I am delighted to nominate Joe Walsh TD as the Chairman of the Board of Horse Sport Ireland. Deputy Walsh, who has served as the Chairman of the Irish Horse Board since October 2005, has the proven leadership skills, experience and commitment necessary to ensure that Horse Sport Ireland will bring about greater organisational efficiencies for the benefit of the horse sport sector. The challenges facing the new organisation are significant but I am confident that the knowledge, expertise and commitment of the Chairman and the Board will result in a bright future for our equestrian sports. I look forward to the first meeting of the board of Horse Sport Ireland taking place as soon as possible."

Nominations to the Board of Horse Sport Ireland:

• Mr Joe Walsh TD, Chairman
• Mr Larry O'Neill, ILDRA, CDA, PEI
• Ms Joan Keogh, Dressage Ireland
• Mr Brian Mangan, Eventing Ireland
• Mr Gerry Leahy, Eventing Ireland
• Ms Patricia Furlong, Showjumping Association of Ireland (SJAI)
• Mr Brian Gormley, SJAI
• Mr Tommy Dixon, SJAI
• Mr Eamon Rice, SJAI
• Ms Alice Mernagh, Irish Pony Club/Irish Pony Society
• Lt Col Gerry O'Gorman, Army Equitation School
• Ms Helen Mangan, Association of Irish Riding Clubs/Association of Irish Riding Establishments
• Ms Bernie Brennan, RDS
• Mr John Jude Doyle (breeding)
• Mr Paul Duffy (breeding)
• Mr Michael Duignan (breeding)
• Mr William Kennedy (breeding)
• Mr Harold McGahern (breeding)

For further information and interviews contact:
Keith Ashmore, Press Officer – 631 3807/ 087 412 8450