Horse Racing Industry

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 March 2024

Wednesday, 6 March 2024

Ceisteanna (166)

Michael Fitzmaurice

Ceist:

166. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware that under EU legislation, studbook rules are required to be published by each breed society; the reason Horse Sport Ireland has not published studbook rules on its website for any of the studbooks it operates under licence from his Department; to confirm if his Department received copies of studbooks rules as part of the April 2022 tender submissions from Horse Sport Ireland; the reason those rules have not been published within the required 90 days of submission to the competent authority; if his officials have reviewed the studbook rules and on what dates such reviews occurred and by whom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11083/24]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The Animal Breeding Regulations (Regulation (EU) 2016/1012 require for Member States to maintain a publicly available list of breed societies recognised and for each of their breeding programme, where available, a reference to a website where information on these breeding programmes can be accessed. Following a procurement competition in 2022, Horse Sport Ireland(HSI) secured a contract to operate the breeding books for the Irish Sport Horse, Irish Draught Horse, Irish Sport Pony, Irish Cob and Irish Partbred Cob Studbooks.

The breeding programmes for the respective breeds were provided by HSI to DAFM. My officials are working with HSI, as well as a number of other breed societies covered by the legislation, on finalising the details of their breeding programmes. HSI have rules for the Irish Sport Horse and Irish Draught breeds on their website and would be in a position to make their current breeding programme for other breeds available to breeders.

As referred above, my officials are working with HSI and other breed societies to meet the requirements of Article 8 of the Regulations regarding approval. Once approval is granted by my Department, Article 9 applies as appropriate.