Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Yes, on foot of this the committee should write to the Department to get clarification. If there is any basis for them at all, they are very concerning figures.

I thank our guests for being here today. I would also like some clarification following on from the opening statement. With regard to the costs to the Exchequer and the taxpayer, it would be useful if we were to delve a little into the reference to millions of euro having been lost due to horses being stamped out of the supply chain as a result of poor databases. Will Mr. Collins explain how one relates to the other? I imagine that we are talking about the uncertainty of, for example, a horse that is registered late or that there would be a lack of clarity on whether a horse had been treated with bute for inflammation and it would be stamped out. How exactly and precisely does it result in millions being lost to the taxpayer? Reference was made to €3,000 being lost to the Exchequer for a horse entering the food chain. Will Mr. Collins explain how the Exchequer ends up assuming responsibility there?

There is also a reference to funeral expenses and a taxpayer liability, as a critique of the system. Will Mr. Collins explain how this liability exists, and will he put any potential estimate on where this stands currently?

Going back to the point about the costs of microchipping, why is the cost so high in comparison to the cost for other animals? What would need to be done at a central level to bring it down to the €5 described by Mr. Collins?