Dáil debates
Thursday, 8 November 2007
Priority Questions
Army Equitation School.
2:00 pm
Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 1: To ask the Minister for Defence the plans he has to improve the quality of horses available to the Irish Army equestrian school for international competition purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27975/07]
Tom Kitt (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The mission of the Army Equitation School, as assigned to it on its establishment in 1926, is to promote the Irish horse abroad through participation in international competitions. The school has discharged this task with considerable distinction down through the years and, through its participation and numerous successes in equitation events at home and abroad, it has successfully promoted the qualities of the Irish horse.
The Army Equitation School has in place a horse purchase board consisting of the officer commanding the equitation school, an official from the Department of Defence, the second officer commanding the equitation school and Colonel E. V. Campion (Rtd.). The equitation school actively encourages breeders and producers who feel they have a suitable horse to contact the school to arrange for inspection and assessment with a view to purchase or lease.
In 2004 the Army Equitation School had 14 international wins at competitions throughout Europe, with 13 international wins in 2005 and a further ten in 2006, including wins at Barcelona, Athens, Copenhagen and Zagreb. The Army Equitation School has had considerable success in 2007, notably Commandant Gerry Flynn's wins on Mo Chroà in the Dublin Grand Prix, the Lisbon Grand Prix, the Drammen Grand Prix and the Vimeiro Grand Prix. Captain Shane Carey holds this year's record for selection on the greatest number of Nations Cup teams and during 2007 he attended eight Nations Cup shows in total. It has recently been announced that Ireland's show jumping team will be promoted to the elite Samsung Super League in 2008, which is reserved for the best eight teams in the world. It has been recognised that Commandant Flynn's and Captain Carey's significant achievements in 2007 have assisted the Irish team in gaining re-entry to this league. Moreover, the success of the school over recent years is testament to the quality of the riders and the horses at the school.
The Army Equitation School continues to source high quality horses for competition at home and abroad and the Minister intends to ensure that sufficient numbers of good quality horses will continue to be acquired by the school in order to maintain the proud tradition of that establishment.
Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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In my experience, and having been a Minister of State, Question Time is not the same without the Minister. That is no reflection on the Minister of State at the Department of Defence, Deputy Tom Kitt. This has happened before and I hope the Minister, in future, ensures Question Time is treated as a priority.
Tom Kitt (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister is abroad on business.
Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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I appreciate that but during the year there are four Question Times for defence matters and it is important the Minister attends. It is not fair to send a Minister of State for what may concern serious Government policy decisions.
I welcome the Minister of State's reply. The funding available to the Army Equitation School to purchase or lease horses is â¬300,000 and it can also acquire horses through patronage. I am sure the Minister of State would agree that this figure is entirely insufficient. He outlined the successes of the equitation school but I would go further and say all our great show jumping victories in the past have involved the Army Equitation School and its great riders. If it was resourced properly and allocated a bigger budget it could buy more and better horses. Are there any plans to increase the budget for the purchase or lease of horses? I remind the Minister of State that we are the only country in the world to have an Army Equitation School that competes at such a high level throughout the world. For that reason the school is very precious and very special. Its situation, adjacent to the Phoenix Park, would present additional opportunities if it had more and better-bred horses.
Tom Kitt (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I agree with the Deputy that the quality of the horses is a very important issue. The mission of the school requires the acquisition solely of Irish competition horses. The school has always been able to acquire any horse deemed, after viewing and a veterinary examination, to be of sufficient quality to merit inclusion in the school. On a number of occasions, after viewing or examination or both, horses were deemed not to be of sufficient quality. The focus of the school is on the quality of the horses.
The Deputy made reference to the figure involved. He is correct that, in 2006, a sum of â¬300,000 was allocated for horse purchasing and leasing but the final expenditure at year's end totalled â¬442,000. The Department will not be found wanting in this regard, subject to various issues that may arise. This year â¬322,000 was allocated for purchasing and leasing. The key point is the quality of horses that become available. I am instancing what happened on the last occasion. A total of 50% more was spent than was allocated.
Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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My question also dealt with the issue of breeding. Many of our best blood lines have been exported and bought by other countries with the result that people are buying horses back from other countries. Most of the horses competing for Ireland in the last Olympic Games were bred abroad.
The Department, together with the new Horse Board Ireland, should develop a new breeding policy to encourage breeding of the right type of horse for international competitions. It is obvious that the best type of showjumping horse is the three-quarter blooded animal as most competitions are decided on time, against the clock. The blood horse is a more athletic animal compared to the traditional draught horse. Has the Minister of State any notes on how the breeding problem is to be addressed? Is it proposed to set up a national centre for breeding showjumpers? This is an area in which our breeding has been diluted in the past by failing to concentrate on the right type of animal for competition.
I suggest more dialogue and co-operation between the breeder, the international rider and the equitation school.
Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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The Minister of State should reply in writing to the Deputy.
Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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The House was late resuming by five minutes.
Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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It has nothing to do with the starting time.
Tom Kitt (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I will answer briefly. I acknowledge the Deputy's point on breeding. It is important that the Ministers for Defence, Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and other Ministers liaise on this issue. The Army Equitation School has a total of 44 horses and there is a strong emphasis on the quality of horse. I will convey the Deputy's valid point to my ministerial colleagues.