Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and local authorities have a role to play, but there is also a role for the Garda when the provisions of Acts are not being enforced. The Clondalkin Equine Club does great work and yet, at this time last year, there was an horrific case of cruelty to horses outside Clonmel. The carcasses of seven dead horses were found and the remaining animals had been left without food, water and so on. Notice was given for the owners to contact the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. There has been no contact made and, to my knowledge, nobody has been prosecuted for that horrible case of animal cruelty. The legislation is there but it is not always enforced. Gardaí - and I know the community gardaí in my area - are very much informed of what is happening. They will know about these situations. It is when they know about them that they will use whatever powers they have to progress matters. For whatever reason, they are sometimes not doing that. It would be good to have more facts about this situation because we know it is happening and people are getting away with it.

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