Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I join Senator Brennan, who raised the issue on yesterday's Order of Business, in commending the leadership of the trade union movement for the manner in which they have engaged with the Government in recent days on the new pay deal, which is a difficult deal for everybody. The leadership, including Jack O'Connor and David Begg, are like us, as they have a constituency to nurture and service. They have shown great courage over the past number of years and when we finally emerge from the recession, the positive role played by the trade union movement will be recognised.

I join Senator Mullins in welcoming the good news on tourism, which is a great lift at a time such as this. The 4% increase in numbers during the winter months augurs well for The Gathering. Perhaps it was inspired by this event, despite all the naysayers. It will be a plus for us but the worry is that the increase was primarily be generated in the US, Australian and New Zealand markets whereas the UK market, which is critical to tourism in Kerry and all over the country, remains a big ask, although numbers increased marginally by 0.6%. However, all this is positive and I commend everyone involved, especially Mr. Niall Gibbons, the chief executive officer of Tourism Ireland, for the part they are playing.

On a number of occasions I have raised the issue of equine maltreatment. Apart from the horse meat scandal, I have raised many times the way in which horses are abused and mistreated around the country. Valerie Cox did an excellent report on "Today with Pat Kenny" last Tuesday morning. It is appalling that horses bought in the Smithfield market for as little as ¤20 are ridden into the ground on concrete pavements and made to jump insurmountable objects on housing estates and so on. They are eventually left on the side of the road. Wonderful work is done by the equine treatment centre in Mallow, County Cork, and by other centres. I acknowledge the hands of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine are full dealing with the horse meat issue but this is also an important issue. Anyone who loves animals does not want to see them in distress.