Horse Racing Ireland Act 2016

Accounts, etc. of Racing Regulatory Body

12. The following section is inserted after section 39 of the Act of 1994:

“39A. (1) The Racing Regulatory Body shall keep all proper and usual accounts of all moneys received or expended by it including a profit and loss account, a balance sheet and a cash flow statement in relation to its functions under this Act.

(2) Accounts kept in pursuance of this section shall be submitted not later than 3 months after the end of the financial year to which they relate by the Racing Regulatory Body to the Comptroller and Auditor General for audit and, immediately after the audit, a copy of the income and expenditure account, the balance sheet and such other (if any) accounts kept pursuant to this section as the Minister, after consultation with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, may direct and a copy of the Comptroller and Auditor General’s report on the accounts shall be presented to the Minister who shall cause copies thereof to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas.

(3) The chief executive of the Racing Regulatory Body or a person acting in such a capacity shall, whenever required to do so by the Committee of Dáil Éireann established under the Standing Orders of Dáil Éireann to examine and report to Dáil Éireann on the appropriation accounts and reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General, give evidence to that Committee on—

(a) the regularity and propriety of the transactions recorded or required to be recorded in any book or other record of account subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General which the Racing Regulatory Body is required by this Act to prepare,

(b) the economy and efficiency of the Racing Regulatory Body in the use of its resources,

(c) the systems, procedures and practices employed by the Racing Regulatory Body for the purpose of evaluating the effectiveness of its operations, and

(d) any matter affecting the Racing Regulatory Body referred to in a special report of the Comptroller and Auditor General under section 11 (2) of the Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Act 1993 , or in any other report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (in so far as it relates to a matter specified in paragraph (a), (b) or (c)) that is laid before Dáil Éireann.

(4) The Racing Regulatory Body shall, whenever so requested by the Minister, furnish to him or her information in relation to such matters as he or she may specify concerning or relating to the scope of its activities under this Act (including its compliance with such codes or policy documents that may issue from time to time by a member of the Government) or its strategy, generally or in respect of any account prepared by it under subsection (1) or the policy and activities, other than day to day provision of integrity services.

(5) The Racing Regulatory Body shall whenever requested by HRI, furnish information in relation to its functions under section 39 (including such information in relation to its income derived from its functions in order to assist HRI in determining annual budget requirements) as is specified in the request.”.