THE IRISH National Stud last night defended its policy on overseas travel – saying that sending representatives abroad was a key factor in attracting business and generating revenues.
In a statement, the stud, a semi-State company, said it had clients from all over the world and that it was the role of its chief executive to represent the stud wherever the thoroughbred industry was active.
“Successfully attracting mares from overseas has great benefits for the stud and also for the broader industry in Ireland,” it said. “The housing of elite stallions at the stud benefits smaller stud farms, which keep mares but no stallions – including creating a demand for their boarding services. The stud attracts up to 150,000 visitors every year from Ireland and overseas. The stud is self-funding, and its activities raise directly over €1 million annually in revenues for the State, and many more indirectly.”
On Thursday, Fine Gael TD Jim O’Keeffe told an Oireachtas committee the stud had run up “enormously extravagant” expenses, with its former chief executive John Clarke and his wife Monica having spent more than €800,000 on overseas travel between January 2002 and January 2010.
Mr O’Keeffe and his party colleague Bernard Allen, chairman of the Dáil public accounts committee, have demanded that the Department of Agriculture compile a report on business practices at the stud. They said the State was the main shareholder in the stud, which was built on lands owned by the Department of Agriculture, and there had to be some scrutiny of what was going on.
Mr Allen said: “Now that they have made a statement I hope they agree to attend an Oireachtas committee to take questions on the contents of the statement, but also on other issues which are not included in the statement.”
The comments followed the release of figures to the The Irish Times under the Freedom of Information Act showing the Clarkes made 40 trips together between January 2002 and January 2010.
Ms Clarke’s flight and chauffeur expenses cost the stud €95,000 and Mr Clarke’s expenses, including flights, accommodation, chauffeur and other credit card bills, cost more than €700,000.
The stud said it “files annual company accounts in which the directors’ dealings are set out . . . The stud has an audit committee, which is subject to an external audit annually. The strict procurement procedures follow best practice and the guidelines and the best value alternative is always sought. This does not always mean the lowest price, but when the lowest price is not taken, reasoning must be clear.”
It said its education network had produced bloodstock leaders and brought great prestige and investment to Ireland.
