THE chairman of the Irish Stable Staff Association [ISSA] has strongly rejected criticisms aimed at him personally and the association in a report commissioned by the Independents4Change parliamentary group.

Launched by TDs Clare Daly and Mick Wallace on Tuesday, the 20-page preliminary report addresses “pay, terms, conditions and representation for stable and stud staff in the horseracing industry in Ireland”.

The report was compiled by former trade unionist Dermot O’Loughlin who received confidential submissions from racing industry employees and officials.

It is highly critical of the role played by the Turf Club and Horse Racing Ireland in protecting employees’ rights. The Workplace Relations Commission is also accused of carrying out ineffective inspections of training yards and stud farms.

Daly said her offices had received “an unprecedented level” of contributions from racing industry whistleblowers. Wallace said there existed “a huge black market in Irish racing and there is no appetite among the authorities to expose it”.

EXPLOITATION

O’Loughlin said some of the testimonies he had received were among the worst cases of employee exploitation he had seen in his career.

ISSA chairman Bernard Caldwell says the authors of the report never contacted him. “The report is full of inaccuracies,” he said. Allegations made at the report launch that he receives €60,000 per annum from the ISSA and had spent two weeks in Dubai earlier this year were outrageous, he said. “I don’t get half that sum and the nearest I’ve been to Dubai was Wexford.”

Horse Racing Ireland said it “noted” the publication of the report. “HRI places a very high priority on the welfare and working conditions of staff throughout the industry,” a statement said.

HRI says it will study the report “and will be happy to meet with Independents4Change and any other interested parties to discuss its contents.” The racing authority added that it is working with the WRC “to assist in ensuring compliance with all relevant legislation and would not condone any situation where employees were mistreated.”

The Turf Club declined to comment on the report, a spokesman saying they had not been contacted by the authors.

A full report is expected to be published in the autumn.

WHAT THE REPORT RECOMMENDS

  • The Irish Stable Staff Association should be closed down
  • Horse Racing Ireland should have no role in negotiating pay terms for stud and stable staff
  • The Turf Club should be replaced by a public body to regulate ‘animal sporting events’
  • More funding needed for a new pension scheme for stable staff
  • Workplace Relations Commission should increase number of equine inspections and give less advance notice
  • Discussion needed on whether racing/breeding is an agricultural activity

    • Search theirishfield.ie for ‘preliminary report’ to see the full 20-page report