HORSE Racing Ireland [HRI], the Turf Club and the Irish Stable Staff Association [ISSA] have all come under fire in a report on working conditions in the racing industry commissioned by the Independents4Change TDs.

Launching the preliminary report in Dublin on Tuesday morning, Clare Daly, TD, said her office had received "an unprecedented level" of correspondence from racing industry employees since she first raised the matter in the Dáil last December.

The main issues, she said, are "wholesale breaches" of the Organisation of Working Time Act, inadequate representation of stablestaff concerns by the ISSA, and the failure by employers to pay overtime or to provide a satisfactory pension scheme.

Deputy Daly described the pay-rate agreement between the Irish Racehorse Trainers Association and the ISSA as "nothing more than a stunt" and a document which has no legal standing.

Sitting with fellow TD Mick Wallace, Daly called for the dissolution of the ISSA which she says is not effectively representing stable staff.

The report is also highly critical of the Turf Club which, say the authors, should no longer receive state funds. "While the Turf Club have very strong powers in areas such as animal welfare, they have no such powers or interest in the welfare of stable staff. Any interest in stable staff is focussed on ensuring they are registered, that 'bonus' notices are displayed, and extracting an allocation from the Stable Employees Bonus Scheme."

HRI is also accused of giving low priority to stable staff. The report says that, contrary to legislation, HRI does not have an industry services committee which is supposed to "identify and improve the requirements of those employed in the industry and represent the interest of such workers".

The Irish Field has asked HRI, the Turf Club and the ISSA for comment.

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