Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Jan 2001

Vol. 529 No. 1

Written Answers. - Animal Welfare.

Liam Aylward

Question:

436 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he will arrange for contact to be made with a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny with regard to the circumstances surrounding the health of equine animals on his farm where the condition of the animals have not improved despite various treatments; if he has satisfied himself that every effort has been made by his Department to establish the cause of the illness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2322/01]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

My Department's regional veterinary laboratory – RVL – in Kilkenny carried out comprehensive blood testing on nine horses in the above mentioned holding in October 2000. As is normal practice, analysis of the test results were forwarded to the herdowner's private veterinary practitioner. I am advised by the RVL in Kilkenny that, on the basis of the recent and also previous analyses carried out, there does not appear to be evidence of a specific disease problem in these horses.