Mr. Flor Madden:

It gives me great cause for concern for those who are currently trying to sell foals. We see there are difficulties in getting passports issued. I am aware of somebody who arrived within the last couple of days and they wished to get a change of ownership done on a passport. They were informed it would take four weeks but there was an alternative. Should they wish to pay a premium fee of €150, it could be issued instantly.

Deputy Flaherty mentioned a sale last week. From my figures, there were 88 foals presented for sale on that day, of which 16 had passports. It is a legal requirement to have a passport in order to sell and to move. You cannot move your foal on.

For those who have been in a position to sell, they cannot receive the money they got for those until the passport situation is resolved, and there may be further problems down the road.