Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 468: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what details his Department records on thoroughbred horses and the details his Department requires other State agencies to record on thoroughbred horses; if his Department or other State agencies record the number of thoroughbred horses present in the country each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30371/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Weatherbys Ireland GCB Ltd. is the body approved, by my Department, to maintain the studbook for thoroughbred horses. European Commission Regulation (EC) No. 504/2008 sets out an improved system for the identification for equidae and is binding on all Member States of the European Union. All approved studbooks are required to record data in accordance with the provisions set down in European Commission Regulation (EC) No. 504/2008.

In January of this year I signed the Diseases of Animals Act 1988 (Registration of Horse Premises) Order 2012, S.I. No. 8 of 2012. This legislation requires that owners or persons in charge of premises where equines (horses/mules/ponies etc.) are kept must register their location with my Department. Registered persons must keep records of the equines on the premises and the movement of equines off and on to the premises. The scale of record keeping depends on the nature of the business at the premises.

This legislation, which came into effect on 1 May 2012, has been put in place to assist with disease control in equines and the register will be used by the Department as a means of contacting owners/persons in charge of equine premises in the event of a disease outbreak to give advice about precautions/measures, etc., to be taken. The register could also be used to collect data on the Irish horse population through a census from time to time.

Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) is a commercial state body established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001 and is responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the industry. HRI publish detailed information on various facets of the thoroughbred sector.