Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 March 2024
1066. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when equine passports will issue for three foals (details supplied), with an application submitted in October 2023; the reasons for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13174/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the relevant breed society that three 2023 foal applications of the person named, were purchased and logged to their system on the 10 October 2023, with the hair samples for each foal being sent to the laboratory on the 13 October 2023.
In order for these foal applications to be parentage tested by SNP DNA, DNA samples for the sire and the three dams were required as they were not already on the SNP platform. The initial DNA results were inconclusive which meant that further testing on the initial samples was required in order to produce DNA results.
The relevant breed society have informed officials in my Department that testing for the foal DNA result takes on average of 25 working days. However, these turnaround times do not allow for situations where more samples are required, or if additional testing is required. Additional time delays also occur where a sample does not pass the test in the first instance and further tests are conducted which adds another 15 working days.
The relevant breed society have advised that they received full SNP DNA results for two foals of the person named on the 14 March 2023. Identification documents were posted to the person named on the 15 March 2024.
The final DNA result was reported to the relevant breed society on the 19 March 2024 and I am informed that this identification document was posted to the person named on that day.
