MADAM,

THE following was issued by Equestrian Industry Stakeholders this week.

The undersigned welcomes the Ministerial Appointment of three Directors and a Chairman, who is also a director to the Board of HSI, and acknowledges the swift action taken by the Minister [Charlie McConalague TD (FF] in response to industry concerns.

The importance of addressing the underlying issues that have led to the Minister’s recent appointments cannot be underestimated. The mounting challenges facing the new Board remain a concern to industry stakeholders.

The urgent need to address financial transparency and accountability, governance, lack of communication and genuine engagement with the Industry, the lack of representation, particularly the continued omission of the Northern Ireland appointment to the Board of HSI, vacant since the acceptance of the Indecon Report in 2018, are all pressing matters.

The management, culture and practices that have been allowed to develop within HSI have not served the Industry well. How all the above is addressed will define the effectiveness of the new Board. We welcome early engagement with the new directors of HSI.

Yours etc,

Christopher J. Byrne, spokesperson of the Equestrian Competition Venues Owners’ Association (ECVOA)

Ronan Corrigan, chairman of the Management and Finance Committee of Showjumping Ireland

Marguerite McSweeney, chair of Dressage Ireland

Tiernan Gill, chairman of Irish Horse Board.

Robert Fagan, Mullingar Equestrian.

Kiernan Connors, Eventing at Punchestown.

Gwen Byrne, CoilÓg Eventing

Hugh McCusker, chairman of the Northern Ireland Horse Board