Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 May 2014
179. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which all non-sporting horses have been registered electronically or otherwise; the extent to which the welfare of such animals continues to be monitored by his Department; the number of instances of mistreatment identified since the passage of animal welfare legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20594/14]
View answerThe identification of all horses including non-sporting horses (and all other equines) is governed by EU Council Directives 90/426/EEC and 90/427/EEC and Commission Regulation (EC) No 504/2008 of 6 June 2008, which came into effect on 1 July 2009. The legislation requires all keepers of equines to identify horses in accordance with the legislation. The process of identification includes completion of a marking sheet by a private veterinary practitioner and since 1 July 2009, in accordance with the Commission Regulation, the insertion of a transponder, which creates a link between the animal and the passport. Accordingly the micro-chipping of equines for identification purposes was not a mandatory requirement prior to July 2009.
The Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 which I commenced recently, strengthens considerably the powers in relation to horse welfare matters and places clear obligations on owners to ensure the welfare of horses in their ownership and/or their care and to dispose of them appropriately. The Act provides the legal basis for the notification of transfer of ownership of horses and legislation is currently being prepared to provide for this. Also new regulations on the registration of horse premises, which I introduced in 2012, require an owner/person in charge of any premises on which horses are kept to register the premises with my Department. My Department will, in conjunction with the local authorities and An Garda Siochana, continue to adopt a pro-active approach in relation to horse welfare and will remove at-risk animals and, where appropriate, institute prosecution relating to any maltreatment of these animals.
My Department has been operating an Animal Welfare Helpline for some time with a view to enabling persons who are concerned about the welfare of horses or indeed any animal to contact my Department. Officials continue to monitor calls including those received since the commencement of the Animal Health and Welfare Act and are following up on calls as appropriate.
