Outgoing greyhound racing board chairman Paschal Taggart will face questions today at the Committee on Public Accounts. The committee is meeting to discuss issues raised in a report into the dismissal of Bord na gCon's former chief executive, Aidan Tynan.
According to the report by former justice department secretary general Tim Dalton, Mr Tynan believes he was sacked because he raised concerns about about Bord na gCon's finances and health and safety concerns. On RTÉ radio yesterday, Mr Tynan said he also feared greyhound racing would become "dominated by the wealthy and a few small professional trainers".
A board source yesterday said that Mr Taggart and his staff were likely to defend their position strongly at the hearing today.
The board sacked Mr Tynan after he wrote to Minister for Sports John O'Donoghue in January giving details of a disciplinary hearing at which two trainers, Paul Hennessy and John Kiely, were fined. Their dogs had tested positive for a performance- enhancing substance, erythropoetin (EPO). Mr Taggart has said there were concerns about differences between Mr Tynan and the board.