Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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601. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of the five racehorses that died from injuries at Clonmel races this month, if he will strengthen regulations in the horse racing industry; if his Department will carry out its own investigation into the deaths of the five horses, despite the fact that the Turf Club cleared Clonmel racecourse of any wrongdoing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29695/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of the events at the race meeting in question, which is clearly a matter of concern, and my Department has been in touch with the Irish Turf Club in this regard.

The Turf Club, which incorporates the Irish National Hunt Steeple Chase Committee (INHSC), sets and administers the rules of racing for all thoroughbred race meetings throughout the State in accordance with Section 39 (1) of the Irish Horse Racing Industry Act 1994.

The Turf Club is the authority which determines whether race-fixtures can be held. Section 46 of the Irish Horse Racing Industry Act 1994 provides that the Turf Club “ or a person acting on its behalf shall, in respect of each race-fixture to be held at an authorised racecourse, determine before the fixture whether that race-fixture may be held having considered the following criteria—

(a) the safety of horses and riders both on and off the racetrack,

(b) the condition in respect of safety of fences, hurdles or other obstacles on the racetrack,

(c) the condition of the running surface of the racetrack,

(d) the efficiency of the management of the racecourse in respect of the holding of horse races at that fixture, and

(e) any other matter that might affect the safe operation of horse races at the race-fixture.”

The Turf Club has confirmed to officials from my Department that the course at Clonmel was inspected on Wednesday June 11, Thursday June 12 and again on June 13 the date on which the fatalities occurred. I understand that these inspections carried out prior to race commencement are part of normal procedure.

The Turf Club has indicated that it undertook an investigation of events leading up to the race meeting and during the fixture. The investigation included interviews with all the trainers and the riders of the horses that were killed, the Irish Racehorse Trainers Association, The Irish Jockeys Association and Turf Club Officials. None of the persons or bodies concerned attributed what occurred to the condition of the track, nor had they raised concerns about the ground conditions on the evening in question.

The Turf Club has indicated that the fatalities occurred on different parts of the track and that there was no commonality between the fatalities. It has also indicated that it has sufficient powers under the rules of racing to address issues of this nature and in particular has made the following points:

- If the raceday stewards have concerns about any aspect of a day’s racing such as the condition of the track, condition of horses etc. they have appropriate powers under the Rules of Racing to deal with each matter as it arises;

- The Turf Club hold an annual safety review with trainers, jockeys and officials and all aspects of safety on all tracks are reviewed;

- The Turf Club monitor fatalities rates at all tracks annually and take remedial action as required.

The Turf Club provide a veterinary officer at all race meetings, who can make reports to the stewards if they have concerns about the fitness or well being of any horse and the stewards have power to order the withdrawal of any horse on welfare grounds.

In this regard the Turf Club has advised that following the incident at Clonmel, they will be sending extra veterinary officers to a selection of race meetings during the summer to carry out pre-race veterinary checks on a precautionary basis. In relation to any further investigation by my Department, the Turf Club has statutory responsibility for the enforcement of integrity in racing, and has sole and independent power to make and apply the rules of racing. In these circumstances I do not consider any further investigation by my Department to be appropriate at this point.