A Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) inspection carried out last year at Ballydoyle identified what it alleges are serious breaches of employment law. A compliance notice was issued after inspectors detected a number of alleged breaches in relation to excessive working hours. Ballydoyle argued that its employees are exempt from provisions under the Organisation of Working Time Act as they are engaged in agricultural work.

Horse Racing Ireland’s CEO Brian Kavanagh has explained that: “The definition of agriculture was changed under an Industrial Relations Act 2015 so that it could now be interpreted to exclude the training and possibly the breeding of thoroughbreds.” At a case hearing last week, Ballydoyle’s lawyer Paul Gallagher argued that the nature of the work carried out by its employees was treated as ‘agriculture’ by the WRC until 2015 and the employer had received no explanation why the legislation had changed. The case will resume on August 28th. The Board of Horse Racing Ireland met last week to discuss the change under the Industrial Relations Act 2015. Commenting on the change, Kavanagh said: “This appears to have happened without our knowledge or consultation. The HRI Board have been told to take the matter up with both Departments (Agriculture and Enterprise, Trade and Employment) which we are doing.”