Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change) | Oireachtas source

I want to raise the issue of equine welfare, particularly in urban areas on public lands and in public parks. I am sure the Tánaiste has heard of My Lovely Horse Rescue, which does great work in the area of animal welfare. It has noted an increase in recent times in the number of animals and horses being left in parks and public spaces and on State land. Last weekend, it filmed a video throughout the South Dublin County Council, Fingal County Council and Dublin City Council areas. There were 100 horses loose in Dunsink and others were tethered with no access to water. There is legislation in place but it is not being implemented as it should be. I ask the Tánaiste to raise at Cabinet the need for the establishment of a multi-agency to enforce that legislation. Many animals are not microchipped or licenced. I propose that the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Senator Hackett, who has responsibility for public land, would take up this matter.

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