Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)

As Deputy Creed will be aware, the Department's main responsibility - in fact, real responsibility - in this area on studbooks is to approve organisations and associations for the purposes of maintaining studbooks and to ensure that they comply with the legislation.

Of course, I am aware of the unanimous views expressed by the Oireachtas joint committee. I am also aware, as Deputy Creed correctly points out, of the fact that the committee heard submissions from a number of groups - pretty much from everybody who was interested in making submissions - and that it made a strong recommendation.

My understanding is that the Department has received, subsequent to that, in January last, one application from the group which is favoured by the committee, and more recently, over the past week or so, a second application. It is incumbent on the Minister and the Department, under the terms of the legislation, to consider all applications and having done so, to respond in due course, and that work is underway.

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