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, has implemented 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 has designated Joe Walsh, T.D., as the Chairman of the new Agency.
Horse Sport Ireland has been 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.