Minister told to get tough with stud board

AGRICULTURE Minister Brendan Smith has been told to shake up the board of the Irish National Stud by the chair of the Dáil’s spending watchdog, who said the company was run like “Fás on overdrive”.

Bernard Allen, who chairs the Public Accounts Committee, said the department needed a strong boardroom presence to ensure the INS adhered to the code of practice for state bodies.

He said the impending boardroom revamp, which this week saw two directors appointed, was a chance to scrutinise its affairs.