asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will make a statement on the criteria governing stallion inspections by his Department; in view of the serious controversy which has arisen over the latest round of stallion inspection when proven sires have failed inspection and their owners and patrons are dissatisfied with the decision, if he will outline the appeal procedure which exists; if he will introduce a fee-based system to allow individual inspections of stallions prior to purchase throughout the year viz. a bought-subject-to-inspection system to ensure the best quality stallions at the most competitive prices for our non-thoroughbred industry; and if he will produce a list of approved stallions for information, but allow the progeny of all national hunt sires out of IHR mares to be registered also.
Written Answers. - Stallion Inspection.
The stallion inspection panel is an independent body representative of my Department, the Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture, and representatives of the industry. The stallions are inspected on the criteria of movement, conformation and a clinical veterinary examination. For animals which fail the clinical veterinary examination there is provision for an appeal to the Veterinary College, whose decision is final. There is no provision for an appeal where a stallion is rejected from the point of view of movement or conformation.
A fee based system to allow individual inspections of stallions prior to purchase could be introduced provided the prospective purchaser is fully aware of the substantial cost involved. This and the matter of allowing progeny of all national hunt sires out of IHR mares to be registered are matters which I expect will be considered in some detail by the Horse Advisory Committee the composition of which I will be announcing shortly.
A list of approved stallions is published each year and the current list is available from the Irish Horse Register Section in my Department.