Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank all the Deputies who contributed to the debate. Tradition cannot act as a veto on legal responsibilities. The Minister, Deputy McConalogue, did not even stay for the full debate. He probably would not have been here at all only he had to correct the record about something else. The Minister of State referred to the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 and the Roads Act 1993. As Deputy Quinlivan noted, 43 years ago the issue of stray horses was brought up by a former Deputy, Mick Lipper. That was 43 years ago. The Minister of State can wheel out all the legislation he likes but his office is clearly getting calls about this and he can see it himself.

I thank the Deputies who came to the debate and were interested in sorting this issue out. Whatever is being done is not clearly not working. I support the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and thank its officials, the council and the Garda for the way they have tried to grapple with this, but it is clearly a mismatch and there is no coherent or decent legislation about this issue. The United Kingdom has a dedicated police unit for dealing with this, not the councils or a department. We heard stories of what happens in cemeteries and graveyards. That is just not acceptable and people have to respect that. We have those problems in Tipperary as well, especially in Cashel.

I am not a killjoy, or a fount of knowledge. I am shocked that the Government can close its eyes to this issue. It was first raised in this House 43 years ago, if that was even the first time. Two years ago I brought it up again and things have only got worse as regards the animal cruelty. The Government must have money to throw away with the amount of money it has given the fund in the past five years, which I think is €12 million. That is a shocking amount of money. I know what it costs and I know the number of horses that have been euthanised. The cruelty involved is shocking. The Government should deal with the problem by bringing in proper, meaningful legislation with powers that can be clearly enforced, rather than a bit from the council, a bit from the Department or elsewhere and a bit from animal welfare organisations. Let us deal with this issue up front.

We have a very respectable and proud racing and horse-owning tradition. I did not refer to it earlier but it is wonderful to see the horse-drawn carriages, especially in the cities and towns, with Guinness and all kinds of delivery goods.

There is a huge respect and relationship between Irish people and the horse. It has gone to new heights internationally with the race horsing skills we have in Tipperary with Coolmore, Aidan O'Brien and his family, and Tommy Stack. I could be all day naming people. We are very proud of them and they give much employment. Look at how they treat their horses.

My hope was that the Government would not just reject this because it was Deputy Mattie McGrath's Bill. Every Deputy who spoke admitted, and they have been honest, that there is a problem. Deputy Gino Kenny has issues with parts of it, which I accept. Maybe prohibition is the wrong word, but we must engage and try to have this brought in under one piece of legislation where races cannot be held without a licence. I would love to ask the Minister a question but he is not here now. He said one had to give a month's notice and make an application to the Department and An Garda Síochána to run a race. How many applications have been received by the Department? How many applications for licences have been refused? How many have been granted? I cannot hear what the Minister of State is saying, but he can tell me privately afterwards or whatever. He was all flowery language but it is meaningless.

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