Horse Racing Ireland Act 2016

Committees of HRI

6. (1) The following section is substituted for section 19 of the Act of 1994:

“Race-fixtures committee

19. (1) The committee (‘race-fixtures committee’) established by HRI to recommend the fixing of the annual list of race-fixtures to HRI other than point-to-point steeplechases continues in being.

(2) The race-fixtures committee, when considering race-fixtures for a racecourse, shall, before recommending the removal of any existing fixture from that racecourse, consult with the executive of the racecourse concerned and seek to agree with such executive how such removal may be achieved having regard to the economic importance of the fixture to that racecourse, in the context of the best interests of the horseracing industry.

(3) The chairman of the race-fixtures committee shall report to HRI on the activities of the race-fixtures committee.

(4) The race-fixtures committee shall have not more than 5 members (including a chairman) and shall include at least one representative from the Racing Regulatory Body and one from authorised racecourses with such other members that HRI considers appropriate.

(5) The chairman of the race-fixtures committee shall be appointed by HRI.

(6) The membership of the race-fixtures committee shall be limited to members of HRI.

(7) A member of the race-fixtures committee who fails to perform his or her functions may be removed at any time by HRI.

(8) HRI may regulate the procedure of the race-fixtures committee.

(9) There shall be paid out of the income of HRI to members of the race- fixtures committee such allowances for expenses (if any) incurred by them in the discharge of their functions as HRI may determine with the consent of the Minister and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

(10) The secretariat and the executive functions in serving the work of the race-fixtures committee shall be provided by HRI.

(11) HRI shall not be bound by any recommendation of the race-fixture committee and the final decision as to a race-fixture shall be taken by HRI.”.

(2) The following sections are inserted after section 20 of the Act of 1994:

“Industry services committee

20A. (1) HRI shall establish a committee (‘industry services committee’) to identify and improve the requirements of those employed in the industry and represent the interests of such workers.

(2) The chairman of the industry services committee shall report to HRI on the activities of the committee.

(3) The industry services committee shall have not more than 5 members (including a chairman) who shall represent the interests of—

(a) jockeys and qualified riders,

(b) persons (other than stable staff) employed in the horseracing industry, and

(c) stable staff.

(4) HRI shall, having consulted with the industry services sector, determine the constituencies and method of election of members of the industry services committee.

(5) The industry services committee shall elect a chairman from among the committee members.

(6) The term of office of an ordinary member of the industry services committee shall be 4 years and no member shall serve for more than 2 consecutive terms.

(7) The industry services committee may include persons who are not members of HRI.

(8) A member of the industry services committee who fails to perform his or her functions may be removed at any time by HRI.

(9) There shall be paid out of the income of HRI to members of the industry services committee such allowances for expenses (if any) incurred by them in the discharge of their functions as HRI may determine with the consent of the Minister and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

(10) HRI may regulate the procedure of the industry services committee.

(11) The secretariat and the executive functions relating to the work of the industry services committee shall be provided by HRI.

Betting committee

20B. (1) HRI shall establish a committee (‘betting committee’) to identify and improve the requirements of the betting sector generally.

(2) The chairman of the betting committee shall report to HRI on the activities of the committee.

(3) The betting committee shall have no more than 5 members (including a chairman) and members shall represent the interests of—

(a) on-course betting operators,

(b) off-course betting operators, and

(c) betting intermediaries,

licensed for such activities.

(4) HRI shall, having consulted with the betting sector, determine the constituencies and method of election of members of the betting committee.

(5) The betting committee shall elect a chairman from among the committee members.

(6) The term of office of an ordinary member of the betting committee shall be 4 years and no member shall serve more than 2 consecutive terms.

(7) The betting committee may include persons who are not members of HRI.

(8) A member of the betting committee who fails to perform his or her functions may be removed at any time by HRI.

(9) There shall be paid out of the income of HRI to members of the betting committee such allowances for expenses (if any) incurred by them in the discharge of their functions as HRI may determine with the consent of the Minister and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

(10) HRI may regulate the procedure of the betting committee.

(11) The secretariat and the executive functions relating to the work of the betting committee shall be provided by HRI.”.

(3) Section 10 of the Act of 2001 is amended—

(a) by substituting for subsections (1) and (2) the following:

“(1) The committee (‘media rights committee’) established by HRI to negotiate, on behalf of HRI and all authorised racecourses, in relation to all contracts or arrangements made with any person in relation to the transmission or relaying of any broadcast (within the meaning of the Broadcasting Act 2009 ) or the photographing, filming or sound recording for commercial purposes (‘media rights’) of a race-fixture or part of a race-fixture continues in being.

(2) Subject to subsections (3) and (4), the media rights committee shall consist of not more than 5 members appointed by HRI and may include members who are not members of HRI.”.

(b) by inserting after subsection (4) the following:

“(4A) A contract or arrangement referred to in subsection (1) shall not be made by the media rights committee without the agreement of the board of HRI and representatives of executives of authorised racecourses.”,

and

(c) by deleting subsections (9) and (10).