Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting my Commencement matter. I acknowledge the correspondence I received last night from the office of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy McConalogue, apologising that he could not be here, for which I thank him, and telling me that alternative arrangements were being made. Subsequently, this Commencement matter was moved from third on the list to second, which may account for some of the confusion on how the Commencement matters are being taken. That is way beyond my brief, however.

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, for coming to the Chamber. He is always very welcome to the House. This matter proposes to ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide equine keepers with access to his Department's animal identification movement scheme, IMM, which houses a central equine database allowing people to notify the Department directly when an equine moves residence to facilitate compliance with EU animal health law and the requirement for a record of habitual residence.

This has been pursued many times in the Dáil by my colleagues, Deputies Fitzmaurice, Lowry and Canney.It is a discussion they have had on many occasions, and I support it.

In short, it is about the importance of information, data sharing and identification relating to the equine sector. It also concerns the importance of recording the details of ownership and history and ensuring that records can be viewed and submitted by equine keepers. We are getting smart, and IT and other technology is now very much part of the game. It is also about the live traceability of horses and more efficient processes for equine keepers to register and be compliant with the requirements set by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine regarding records, movement and traceability of equines. Such records will also be valuable in cases of regional equine contagious diseases and outbreaks.

As I have said, this is all built around EU animal welfare law. I am keen to understand how it is progressing. Yesterday, we had the second national equine census in the country, for which 29,000 census forms and contacts were made. That is a significant undertaking. It is important for equine keepers to fully comply with the census. The move now is to embrace technology so the database can be accessed. I understand the Department is in favour of that and there may be questions around it.

Regarding the equine census, I want to acknowledge and thank the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine for a very comprehensive question and answer session which it pulled together and posted on its website. It was very helpful. Based on the outcome of the census yesterday, there will be a measure of how many people are engaging with the system. As we know, the equine sector is important to our economy.

We had a debate yesterday on funding for the Irish racehorsing industry. We have to do everything we can to support the Irish racing and breeding industries. Horses contribute significantly to the economy of Ireland, in particular the rural economy, be that sports, racing or breeding. Kilkenny is of particular importance. I want to do what I can to support the sector. I also want to make it easier for equine keepers to comply with the various EU laws and agricultural requirements.

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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I welcome the young people to the Gallery. It is great to have them here. I probably saw them in the Dáil earlier. I am sure they are all looking forward to Santa. The countdown is well and truly on.

In line with the commitment in the programme for Government to prioritise equine welfare through a robust traceability system, the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine carried out the first equine census in November 2021. The 2022 equine census was held yesterday, Wednesday, 30 November. The primary objective of the census is to capture the habitual residence of every equine present on holdings across the country on census night - I am starting to sound like the nativity.

All keepers will be able to access the equine census 2022 portal on agfood.agriculture.gov.ie. It will allow them to submit a census, including habitual residence of animals on a holding. It is important not to conflate habitual residence with ownership. As with other species, it is the keeper who may or may not be the owner of the equine and is responsible for the proper identification and treatment of that animal. The Department, therefore, relies primarily on updates by the keeper and change of ownership updates as a matter for the passport issuing organisation, PIO.

As referenced by Senator Boyhan, the census is required in order to comply with the provisions of EU animal health law, EU regulation 2016/429, which requires that the Department records the details of the premises where all equines resident in the State are habitually kept. Unlike other farm species, equines move on a frequent, often daily, basis for training, exercise, breeding, racing, competition, shows, etc. It is recognised that real-time recording of their every movement is not feasible due to the frequency of movement of horses. Accordingly, the EU legislation regarding equine traceability is based on the creation of a link between the horse and residents where it is habitually kept.

The concept of a habitual residence is generally regarded as referring to the place where an equine has resided for a period of more than 30 days. By creating a link for the first time between each equine kept in the State on census day and the premises where it is kept, the census is the Department's first step in capturing the habitual residence of equines in the country.

The 12,500 census returns received last year have been converted into holding profiles in the Department's central equine database. As outlined, keepers will have access to the central equine database through the census portal, equine census 2022 on agfood.agriculture.gov.ieto which they can make a return. Those who submitted a 2021 census return will be presented with the information they submitted last year and can choose to access information and use it as a base for their return. This removes the need to re-enter the 15-digit passport numbers on equines that remain on the premises, information which is kept and recorded on the Department's system. Keepers keeping large numbers of equines, even where they are capped across a number of different premises, can choose a bulk upload option or submission of a spreadsheet on agfood.agriculture.gov.ie.

While paper returns will be accepted for census 2022, the Department strongly encourages people to submit their 2022 census data online to through the dedicated census portal using their dedicated user name and PIN. I, along with the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, encourage everyone keeping an equine to submit a census form. Census data provides valuable information for disease prevention, addressing public health concerns and dealing with lost, straying or stolen horses. There is extensive information on the Department's website for anyone with more questions.

In more general terms, equine traceability continues to be enhanced. The system is centred on the equine database, which was established in May 2013. The database is part of the Department's annual identification movement. The database records and registered details on all equines issued with a passport by approved PIO, in Ireland. It also records the registration details of equines resident in the country issued with a passport by approved PIOs outside the Status.

Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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I thank the Minister of State. It is a classic example of an excellent response to a Commencement matter. It is exceptionally detailed. The response even referred to me. I know the Minister of State is delivering the response on behalf of the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, and the Department. I thank the Department for taking the time to advise me yesterday that the Minister could not be here. It is a measure of attention to detail and focus by the Minister and Department. The response is exactly what I was looking for. I ask the Minister of State to convey that to the Department and Minister.

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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The Senator has summed it up very well. I will pass on that information. I agree with him that the Minister has provided an excellent piece of additional information. It shows that the Department is dealing with the matter very well. It is an important area. As the Senator said, this is an important industry in Ireland, not just in my county but across the country. It is worth significant revenue to the Exchequer and is a significant employer. In that regard, the Department has been very considerate in ensuring that the equine database is kept up to speed and moves with technology.