Horse Sport Ireland meet with Michael Creed TD, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Horse Sport Ireland, the National Governing Body for Equestrian Sport in Ireland, met with Michael Creed TD, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, yesterday (Thursday), to discuss a number of topics relating to the Irish Sport Horse Industry and the implementation of the industry strategic plan ‘Reaching New Heights’.

(l-r) Damian McDonald (HSI CEO), James Kennedy (HSI Finance Chairman) and Mark Bolger (HSI Director of Finance) met with Michael Creed TD, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and his officials, at the Department of Agriculture House on Kildare St, Dublin. (Photo: Cody Glenn/Sportsfile)

Speaking after the meeting, Horse Sport Ireland Finance Chairman James Kennedy, said that meeting had been very constructive:

“The Minister will be calling a meeting of the ‘Reaching New Heights’ implementation group in the coming weeks. HSI has made a lot of progress to-date with the new International Marketing Division, new Foal and Mare Championships, the establishment of a Scientific Breeding Group and the review of Inspections, while the Department are also introducing new Equine Discussion Groups. A meeting of the implementation group, chaired by the Minister, should provide a further impetus to the process” he said.

The board of Horse Sport Ireland have been looking closely at further projects and initiatives to implement the strategy, however it is clear that substantial extra funding will be needed over time to support these new initiatives.

The Minister also confirmed that following a tender process, they will engage an independent consultant in early October to carry out the review of the structure of HSI which was also recommended in ‘Reaching New Heights’.

Mr Kennedy added:

“It took many years for the Government to get agreement in the sector for the establishment of the Horse Sport Ireland structure which was devised by Michael Dowling the former Secretary General of the Department of Agriculture. We believe that great progress has been made in pulling the sector together, with 27 organisations now affiliated and participating in the HSI structure. However, we agree that the time is right to have a review of the structure. Horse Sport Ireland and it’s affiliates look forward to participating constructively in the review in the coming months.” he said.