Paul Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In her submission, Ms Eade touched on Brexit and the issues therein. I have one question about which small breeders have been on to me. I will put on the record that I too have one brood mare, so I know what these people are on about. The question relates to the five-day notice. Has Horse Racing Ireland had any communication with the Department on this? The five-day notice must be given to the Department vet if one is bringing a mare to be covered in the UK. This is becoming a little bit of a nightmare, as Ms Eade can appreciate, and as Mr. Osborne will certainly appreciate. When a mare is in season, she is in season. Before this, one would have been able to just put her in the horse box, go to the ferry and go over to get her covered. If a horse is going over to race we know well in advance of five days and we can put all the information in place and have the Department vet out and so on. Has Horse Racing Ireland had any communication with the Department on this? I have contacted the Department and raised the issue but I do not seem to be making much progress. Is there any way around that for the purposes of breeding alone? We are dealing with nature here.