asked the Minister for Defence the number of horses that were bought for the Army Equitation School in 1974; the price paid for each horse; and from whom each horse was bought.
25.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Army Equitation School.
24.
asked the Minister for Defence the number of show jumping horses acquired by the Army Equitation School in 1974; and the total cost.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 24 and 25 together.
In the year 1974 fifteen horses were bought for the Army Equitation School. Of these eleven were acquired, at a cost of £109,397.50, for show jumping and four were acquired, at a cost of £47,850.00, for 3-day eventing, total cost £157,247.50.
Again, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to have the names of the persons from whom the horses were bought circulated in the form of a tabular statement in the Official Report.
It is not the practice to disclose information regarding the prices paid for individual horses.
The following are the names and addresses of the persons from whom horses were purchased in 1974 for the Army Equitation School:—
Mr. Seán Flood, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford; Mr. W.A. Buller, Scarva, Co. Down (two purchases); Mr. E. Cash, Clane, Co. Kildare (two purchases); Mr. Ted Power, Fethard-onSea, Co. Wexford; Mrs. K. Kjaer, Rathmoylan, Co. Meath; Mr. A. McCarren, Drumbar House, Cavan; Miss Iris Kellett, Mespil Road, Dublin; Mr. J. Dargan, Ballivor, Co. Meath; Mr. Maurice Coleman, Lombardstown, Co. Cork; Mr. Liam Duggan, Commons Road, Cork; Mr. J. Willoughby, Lismore, Co. Waterford; Mr. F. Kernan, Crossmaglen, Co. Armagh; Mr. J. Finnegan, Stoneyford, Co. Kilkenny.
Can the Minister say if the horses that were bought have proved satisfactory to date?
Yes, I think I can say that they are satisfactory.
Including the two knocked by the vets?
I have no such knowledge and I would not like the House to be misled.
At the Gowran Park sales last year they paid more than £30,000 for horses and what happened? Two animals which were knocked by foreign buyers who had sent in their own vets to examine them were bought by the Army.
I have no such knowledge and I do not wish the House to be misled by Deputy Davern.
Stonewall.
Would the Minister say if every horse bought by the Army last year is sound and fit for the purpose for which the animal was bought?
When buying horses we always have them vetted. Very often a price may be made for a horse. When he comes to be vetted, however, that horse may be found to be unsound. In that case, we lose nothing, except the cost of the vet's examination of the horse. The horse does not arrive and is not bought. The Deputy asked me if every horse that was bought is sound. I cannot say that because I am aware, for instance, of one particular horse that went lame before the Burghley three-day event last year and is now sound again. I do not know whether every horse up there is sound at present.
Question No. 26.
I do not want this House to be misled and I do want to do my best in that regard.
Is it not the position that before one bids for a horse one gets him vetted?
No.
So, the Minister is different to everybody else?
No.
This is becoming an argument.
There is no change in the manner of purchasing horses at all of which I am aware. A price is made for a horse, subject to the horse being found sound. If the horse is found to be unsound, no money passes.
While I appreciate the fact that the Minister is keeping up the number of horses on the Army Equitation Team, in view of the fact that the amount of money runs into thousands, I wonder could he explain why the paltry sum of 50 pence keeps cropping up in the accounts he has given for horses? How is that arrived at?
I would say probably it was a purchase in guineas.