Statement from HSI Chief Executive Denis Duggan

“The death of Katie Simpson in Northern Ireland and the independent review by Dr Jan Melia into the case has raised serious questions in relation to safeguarding in the unaffiliated element of the sport horse sector.

“The report noted that national bodies in Ireland and the UK - both of which have affiliates in Northern Ireland - prioritised safeguarding and have a range of supports in place. However, unaffiliated and unregulated establishments can operate outside these codes of practice.

“HSI notes the contents of the Katie Simpson Review and echoes the concerns of Dr Melia into the “unregulated” and “unaffiliated” element of the sport horse sector. HSI supports the work of HSI affiliates such as AIRE, IPC, SJI, AIRC and RDAI to ensure that activity within each of their respective organisations is underpinned by compliance with the Vetting Act and the Children’s First Act.

“HSI supports the recommendations in the Katie Simpson Review in relation to equestrian sport in Northern Ireland and would welcome any support for a similar approach to the unregulated sector in the Republic of Ireland.

“Notwithstanding the fact that Dr Melia’s report highlighted some specific issues in the unregulated sector, there remains more to be done across the entire industry in relation to safeguarding, and HSI is committed to continuing to work closely with affiliates and its peer organisations across the island of Ireland in relation to this issue.

“When questions emerge for governing bodies in sports, responsible organisations do not look away. They look inward. At Horse Sport Ireland, safeguarding is not an administrative or compliance exercise. An appropriate safeguarding culture is a key element of our overall leadership culture.

“Safeguarding is ultimately about trust. The trust of a child entering sport, the trust of a parent handing over that child to an environment that they believe is safe, and the trust of participants, all of whom who deserve dignity, respect, and protection.

“Leadership means ensuring those expectations are met not just occasionally, but consistently. That is why safeguarding is embedded in how HSI educates, how it supports affiliates, how we accredit, and how we operate on a daily basis.

“Safety is never optional in sport.”

The Irish Field (TIF): HSI has very comprehensive safeguarding guidance on its website. How is awareness of this guidance actively communicated to staff and your affiliates across the sport horse industry?

Horse Sport Ireland (HSI): All HSI affiliates are required to nominate a Children’s Officer and Designated Liaison Person (DLP). HSI regularly meets with its affiliate organisations and their DLPs in relation to safeguarding matters. HSI also regularly requests copies of documentation from its affiliates to demonstrate that they are in compliance with the Children’s First Act.

All HSI correspondence and engagement in relation to safeguarding is with HSI affiliate organisations. Employers in the sector deal directly with their member organisation, which in turn liaises with HSI.

TIF: Garda and PSNI vetting checks are available through HSI for all roles that involve contact with under 18s. Do you have any way to monitor that each organisation has these vettings in place and up to date?

HSI: HSI provides a vetting service, both Garda vetting and Access NI, to its affiliates and their respective clubs, branches or organisations. The Vetting Act requires that any individual appointed to a role considered Relevant Work must have a vetting check completed. The legal responsibility for ensuring that the correct vetting procedure has taken place lies with the organisation that is appointing the individual to that role.

In this context, it should be noted that individual clubs, branches and organisations do not register with, or affiliate to, HSI. It is the national representative bodies which are HSI affiliates, and the responsibility cascades down through each representative body to individual clubs, branches and organisations.

TIF: HSI advises that all workplaces involving under 18s have their own named Designated Liaison Persons. Does HSI verify that affiliates are actually complying with this requirement?

HSI: HSI recommends full compliance with the Children’s First Act, with appointment of a Relevant Person being one of the requirements of the Children’s First Act. HSI requires that all HSI affiliates nominate both a Children’s Officer and Designated Liaison Person (DLP).

Individual Clubs, Branches and Organisations do not register with or affiliate to HSI. It is the national representative bodies which are HSI affiliates.

TIF: What is the HSI safeguarding position or policy for vulnerable adults?

HSI: The HSI Vetting Policy applies to both children and vulnerable adults as defined in the Vetting Act. HSI is also currently developing an Adult Safeguarding policy in conjunction with Sport Ireland, Sport NI, and other national governing bodies of sport.

HSI General Rules apply to all individuals engaged with HSI and all of the individual HSI affiliates also have their own rules and regulations.

TIF: Since the policy was introduced, how many safeguarding concerns have been reported through your formal pathway, and what proportion of those were subsequently referred to Tusla or the Gardaí?

HSI: HSI cannot comment publicly on individual safeguarding concerns, and it would be inappropriate to do so.

TIF: Is there any mechanism for sharing information between yards, sporting venues or other employers about individuals who have had safeguarding concerns raised against them?

HSI: HSI regularly meets with HSI Affiliate National Children’s Officers and Designated Liaison Persons and all HSI affiliates are encouraged to share any safeguarding information or concerns they may have to ensure that such information is communicated across affiliates.

TIF: Do you believe that safeguarding guidance recommendations should become a legal requirement for affiliates?

HSI: HSI notes that the Children’s First Act requires that all organisations, which provide a Relevant Service as defined in the Act, meet safeguarding requirements.

These include appointing a relevant person, undertaking an assessment of risk, publishing a Child Safeguarding Statement, and ensuring appropriate procedures are in place to ensure, as far as practicable, that each child availing of the service from the provider is safe from harm while availing of that service.

HSI supports the implementation of the Children’s First Act across the entire sport horse sector.