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

I want to be clear on a number of points. Even if one registers one's horse it does not solve the problem. The Deputy's point is a fair one. We are trying to find a solution that will encourage people to abide by that solution and ensure it does not cost them a fortune. Otherwise, we will have concerns about animal welfare, and I have seen photographs of horses that have been dumped, abused and so on.

It might be helpful if I were to come into committee on this issue where we could discuss in detail some of the options rather than giving a short soundbite here. This is a difficult problem. We have outlets for unwanted horses. We pay local authorities a good deal of money, and they are disposing of very large numbers of horses but that is probably not enough to deal with the current significant problem that has arisen as a by-product of the horsemeat crisis and the fact that many of the factories were closed to horsemeat. Two factories are now open again and they are slaughtering quite large numbers of horses but we still have a glut of horses to deal with, and many of them will not be allowed past the door of a factory.

We have to find a solution for that but it is also important in a debate like this one to remind people who own horses of their obligations. The idea that it is somehow the Government's problem to deal with the disposal of an animal that they own and have responsibility for because it now appears it is more expensive to dispose of that animal is wrong. It is important in that context to remind people of their obligations when they own an animal, but we need a detailed discussion on this issue.

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