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

Reference was made to the programme last night in terms of the quantity of Irish horses are slaughtered in Britain, and the circumstances in which that happens. Dr. Smyth or another witness stated that there was no inkling within the Department of this practice. It was referenced in a couple of cases that there were large stables in which one in six racehorses have died since 2015. Considering the average lifespan of a horse is 25 to 30 years, is there no mechanism within the Department whereby that would raise alarm bells and warrant further investigation?