Discipline

The Irish Shows Association expects and will insist upon appropriate behaviour from all Exhibitors and others participating in any of the activities at our Member Shows and will not tolerate inappropriate behaviour. Inappropriate behaviour shall include but not be limited to the following:

1. Profanity, coarse or vulgar language or gestures towards judges, exhibitors or other Show officials
2. Harassment or bullying, including using words or actions that threaten, intimidate or undermine judges or other officials before, during or following Member Show activities
3. Failure to follow rules and/or obey instructions
4. Abusing any animal

Disciplinary Procedures:

Complaints of misconduct against an Exhibitor or other participant at a Member Show shall be investigated and adjudicated upon by a subcommittee appointed by the Irish Shows Association. The said subcommittee shall consist of three members of the board of the Irish Shows Association and shall be known as the Disciplinary Committee. The Disciplinary Committee shall seek to ensure the existence of consistent, effective, fair and transparent complaint procedures and shall act in accordance with natural and constitutional justice.

Procedure:

1. A complaint of misconduct/inappropriate behaviour against an Exhibitor or other participant in a Member Show shall be made in writing and delivered to the Secretary of the relevant Member Show within 72 hours.
2. A copy of the complaint shall be sent by the Secretary of the Member Show to the National Secretary of the ISA. A copy of the complaint will be sent by the National Secretary to the person or persons against whom the complaint is made. A person or persons against whom a written complaint is made shall have a period of 14 working days from the date of receipt of the claim to reply to the said complaint; such reply shall be made in writing.
3. Both parties shall state whether an oral hearing of the complaint is sought. The Disciplinary Committee shall be entitled to hold an oral hearing in regard to the complaint whether or not sought. The Disciplinary Committee shall decide in each case whether to hold such an oral hearing in respect of the complaint, or any part thereof and there shall be no appeal from such decision of the Disciplinary Committee.
4. The Disciplinary Committee shall, at any time, seek further information from either party. In the event of either party refusing or failing to provide such further information within the time specified by the Disciplinary Committee, the Committee shall be entitled to make a decision on the complaint and/or to hold an oral hearing of the complaint in the absence of a copy of such further information being received by the Disciplinary Committee from either party.
5. The Disciplinary Committee shall be entitled to reject a complaint where, in the opinion of the Committee, it finds there is no basis for it.

Sanctions:

In the event of a first incident of inappropriate/unacceptable behaviour being deemed to be proved against the offender, the Disciplinary Committee shall issue a written warning to the offender. In the event of any subsequent incident, the Disciplinary Committee shall be entitled to impose sanctions on the offender, including a prohibition on such offender participating in any of the events/activities at any Member Show of the ISA, provided always that in the event of a first incident of inappropriate/unacceptable behaviour being deemed by the Disciplinary Committee to constitute gross misbehaviour, the Disciplinary Committee shall be entitled to impose such sanctions on the offender as it deems appropriate, including the prohibition on such offender from participating in any of the events/activities of any Member Show of the ISA. The decision of the Disciplinary Committee shall be final. The ISA recommends that part or all of this procedure should be published in all show schedules and that a copy is available in the show office. If using a shorter version, you should provide a link to the full text. It is also advisable to make the full text available through your own show's website.