Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

First, I am glad this issue was raised because, as the Deputy is aware, we have had a challenging year in terms of horsemeat entering the food chain. I believe we have got through that successfully and have been Europe's leaders in exposing the problem and in putting in place policy initiatives to ensure it does not happen again. However, one consequence has been a dramatic reduction in the number of horses slaughtered in Irish slaughtering facilities this year. Thus far, the figure is approximately 5,500 whereas last year, the figure would have been nearly four times that.

See this speech in context