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

I thank the witnesses for returning. I want to pick up where I left off with the trainers on the BBC "Panorama" documentary that is due to be broadcast next Monday. It is one of those things that those of us who hold horse racing in high esteem are concerned to see. It is expected to focus on horses that were euthanised or in some cases ended up in the food chain. Irish trainers are expected to feature. Could Mr. Kavanagh indicate whether he has engaged with the programme makers or if he is aware of any legal challenges to it and if he wants to respond to what appears to be concerning revelations? According to the blurb for the programme:

Panorama discovers that off the track many horses suffer career-ending injuries, and rather than being rehabilitated or retrained for life outside the sport, racehorses that have been owned and trained by some of the biggest names in the industry have been put down, some meeting grisly deaths.

It would be useful if we could get clarification from HRI that the practice I have just described does not happen in Ireland.