The Minister for Agriculture, Joe Walsh, yesterday turned the heat up further on the Association of Irish Racecourses when he again emphasised his desire to have all media rights centrally negotiated by the proposed new Horseracing Ireland Board.

The AIR has already expressed its unwillingness not to give up its ownership of the income from media rights proposed under the merger plans initially outlined by the Minister for Finance, Charlie McCreevy. The AIR has also outlined how they may consider taking legal action to protect its ownership of media rights.

However, Minister Walsh said yesterday he had been strongly reminded that other players in the industry are major contributors to the value of all saleable rights. He said: "For this reason and the need to maximise the benefits of all rights to the whole industry I propose the sale of all rights be centrally negotiated by Horseracing Ireland through a specially established committee on which the Turf Club and the AIR combined would have a majority say."

However, the Minister's statement significantly added: "Final approval would of course rest with the board of Horseracing Ireland."

Minister Walsh's statement also clarified the composition of the new proposed new board which he said would have 11 members, as compared to the current 16 which make up the Irish Horseracing Authority. The Government will appoint one member instead of four and all other bodies would have one representative, except for the Turf Club which would have three.

The Minister also stated his desire that "the future control of Horseracing Ireland should be firmly in the hands of those who have a very strong economic interest, those whose livlihoods depend on the industry to a significant degree."

Earlier this year, Coolmore Stud supremo John Magnier voiced his concerns that "amateurs" were holding up the implementation of the plans.