The Irish National Stud has tonight 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,” the statement 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.”
It continued: “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 a million euro annually in revenues for the State and many more indirectly”.
On Thursday, Fine Gael TD Jim O’Keeffe told an Oireachtas committee that the stud had run up “enormously extravagant” expenses in conducting its business, with its former chief executive John Clarke and his wife Monica spending more than €800,000 on overseas travel between January 2002 and January of this year.
Mr O’Keeffe and his party colleague Bernard Allen have demanded that the Department of Agriculture compile a report on business practices at the stud.
Mr Allen, and Mr O’Keeffe, pointed out that the State was the main shareholder in the stud, which was built on lands owned by the Department of Agriculture and that there had to be some scrutiny of what was going on.
Their comments followed the publication of figures released to The Irish Times under the Freedom of Information Act, which showed 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.
In its statement, the stud said it “files annual company accounts in which the directors dealings are set out. These are in the public domain. The stud has an audit committee, which is subject to an external audit annually.
“The strict procurement procedures follow best practise 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.”
The stud said its education network had produced leaders in the field of bloodstock and brought great prestige and benefits to Ireland, as well as significant investment.
