‘Political meddling saw dog racing collapse’
Brendan Moore was one of four IGB directors appointed by Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney in 2011. But he said there has been a lack of accountability or a willingness to take responsibility for the “shambles the industry was in”.
Mr Moore said he and other ministerial appointments do not have the skills to manage the company out of its current difficulties.
Mr Moore’s letter said the company’s financial and integrity problems were rooted in “political interference, a lack of accountability, and poor management”.
The IGB issued a statement which rejected his criticism and said the director had not raised these concerns at board level.
“Mr Moore’s letter is an extraordinarily ill-informed attack on the IGB, of which he himself is a director.
“The remaining board members categorically refute the wild and offensive allegations contained in the letter and regret the damage that this will cause to the greyhound industry,” it said.
Mr Moore had flagged similar concerns internally last year with company chairman, Phil Meaney.
In his letter to the minister, Mr Moore argued that a self-regulating industry managed by political appointments was a “recipe for disaster” which had compromised the effectiveness of the company.
“I canvassed to get my seat on the IGB and was successful in doing so. I think this highlights a flaw in the recruitment of a state board because I do not have all the skills or experience to turn a company around that is indebted in excess of €30m,” he said.
Mr Moore sent the letter to Mr Coveney, Junior Minister Tom Hayes, and the department’s secretary general, Tom Moran, in July.
He said he feared greyhound owners and breeders would be left to carry the burden if the company collapsed.
He pointed to the fact its two senior investigators — the head of compliance and the internal auditor — were both on extended sick leave, saying he had serious concerns about the matter.
The letter was discussed at an IGB board meeting last month with Mr Meaney.
Previously, Mr Coveney was criticised for appointing Mr Meaney to the €21,000-a-year post. He had been an election organiser for Phil Hogan, now the environment minister.
Mr Moore’s letter said the industry was on the cusp of disaster. “I am a member of the board for 20 months now and in that time the industry has continued to increase losses and regulatory functions continue to be breached. The political influence on the industry ensures people are not appointed on merit.”
Mr Moore said responsibility for its failures lay at the door of the minister, his department, and the IGB.
A statement from Tom Hayes, the junior minister, said he had received the letter and passed it on to Mr Meaney.
