THE IRISH National Stud must appear before the Oireachtas agriculture committee to explain its “Fás-like expenses regime”, opposition spokesmen on agriculture have said.
Fine Gael’s Michael Creed and Labour’s Seán Sherlock, both members of the agriculture committee, said they would request that representatives of the stud appear before the committee after figures showed €800,000 had been paid by the stud for its chief executive’s expenses over an eight-year period.
Figures released to The Irish Timesunder the Freedom of Information Acts showed the semi-State company paid €800,000 in expenses for flights, travel and accommodation for John Clarke and his wife, Monica, between January 2002 and January 2010.
The Clarkes had 40 trips together over the eight-year period. Mrs Clarke’s expenses came to almost €100,000 while Mr Clarke’s expenses came to €700,000.
The company also paid €134,000 on bills related to Tully House, in which the couple lived.
These bills were incurred over a 10-year period and included heating and lighting bills of €37,000, to which Mr Clarke made a total contribution of €4,500 or €133 a month.
An Irish National Stud spokeswoman said yesterday the role of the CEO included representation of the stud worldwide and as such entailed considerable travel.
Mr Creed said the figures involved were extraordinary.
“It is the kind of excess to which we have become regrettably accustomed,” he said.
“It is entirely unacceptable and the Public Accounts Committee and the Comptroller and Auditor General should interest themselves in it.”
He said he would raise the matter at the next agriculture committee meeting and request that the stud be called in to explain the expenses.
Mr Sherlock said representatives of the stud should be brought before the committee to explain their “Fás-like expenses regime”.
The stud needed to answer questions in relation to expenditure and corporate governance as well as on the management and treatment of personnel, he said.
Labour Senator Michael McCarthy, also a member of the agriculture committee, said there was no reason why household bills incurred by the former chief executive should be paid for by the stud.
“There are only two official residences in Ireland, Áras an Uachtaráin and the Mansion House,” he said.
A spokesman for Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith said the stud was a commercial semi -State body and its board was responsible for operational matters. The board had already indicated to the Minister that the travel expenses incurred by Mr Clarke were necessary for the conduct of the business of the stud.
“Household utility bills in respect of the house, which is the property of the INS, are covered in the contract of employment between the INS and the CEO,” the spokesman said.
