Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As I said when I visited Clondalkin at the opening of the facility out there, the horse is a part of our DNA as evidenced by the great Punchestown festival taking place this week. The urban horse is as much a part of the story of the Irish horse and cannot be forgotten or written out. That said, there is an issue around welfare that is disproportionately evident in that area. While we have effective legislation in the form of the 2013 Animal Health and Welfare Act, there are complex issues here around the control of horses, for which local authorities have primary responsibility, as well as road traffic issues. The unregulated nature of sulky racing on public roads poses dangers for horses, their owners and the public at large. This is a complex area but the aforementioned education initiative is to be welcomed. We need both the carrot and the stick in this area. We have the legislative toolbox necessary but we need to ensure all actors involved in the implementation of that legislation live up to their respective responsibilities.

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