Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I listened to "Newstalk" this morning and I heard the representative of My Lovely Horse Rescue setting out the animal welfare issues relating to horses, which was quite shocking. I was struck by the remark that it is possible to buy a horse in Ireland for as little as €10, which is extraordinary. I know some horses are well looked after but a lot are not and that is not right. In this country we have a particular attachment to horses and we hate to see them maltreated. The law is in place but, as the Deputy stated, it is not adequately being enforced. I will raise the issue with my colleagues, the Minister of State, Senator Hackett, and the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, to see what we can do better.

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