Breeda Moynihan-Cronin (Kerry South, Labour)
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Question 86: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food her views on introducing a minimum value rule for the export of horses from here to the continent along the lines of that which applies to the export of horses from the UK to continental Europe; the number of horses which were exported from here during each of the past five years to continental Europe; the number of horses which were imported from the United Kingdom during each of the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18874/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The minimum value rules referred to by the Deputy, which are implemented in the UK are supplementary to European rules, which govern the trade in horses between Member States and prescribe the health conditions and certification to be applied to such animals. My Department implements EU laws regarding the trade of horses between Member States and I have no plans, at present, of going beyond these.

As I have indicated previously, Ireland does not specifically certify horses for slaughter as health certificates do not distinguish this as a purpose of export. All export health certificates issued by the Department are in respect of animals for breeding, racing, show jumping etc. It should however be noted that trade in horses for slaughter is covered by relevant EU regulations and is, subject to compliance with animal health and welfare legislation, a legitimate trade.

Ireland is also party to a tri-lateral agreement with the UK and France under which trade in all horses with the UK and in registered horses to France takes place without health certification, on the basis of equivalent health status in the equine sectors in these countries. Statistics are not normally kept in relation to these movements. Such horses must, however, be individually identified by a passport or a current signed marking sheet.

Details in relation to exports of horses for which statistics are kept are as follows:

The significantly higher figure for 2001 is due to the fact that the tripartite agreement was suspended for the duration of the foot and mouth crisis and all horses travelling to the UK and France had to be certified in the same way as horses going to other European countries.

General welfare rules apply to the export of horses. All consignments of certified horses and a random sample of horses exported under the tripartite arrangements are subjected to welfare checks by veterinary inspectors at ports to ensure that they are fit for the journey intended and a certificate is issued.