Senator calls for 'watchdog' members to be added to board

Senator Tim Lombard has called for a shake-up of the Horse Racing Ireland board and stated that the two vacant positions that are to be filled by minister for agriculture Michael Creed need to be "watchdogs" for the government.

The shortlist for the two ministerial appointees to the board is believed to have been reduced to eight.

Lombard, the Fine Gael representative who sits on the joint committee of agriculture, food and the marine, was one of those who last week probed HRI chairman Joe Keeling and board representatives at the Oireachtas hearing that discussed Brian Kavanagh's controversial reappointment as HRI CEO for a third term. He is adamant the minister's chosen duo must be external appointees and not have vested interests in the industry.