Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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285. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine why the rigorous inspections of the Irish draught horse breed have been suspended, given the importance of the breed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42834/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) maintains the Irish Horse Register which incorporates the Irish Sport Horse and the Irish Draught Horse Studbooks. HSI has received an approval from my Department for this purpose.

Breeding policy in relation to Irish Draught and Irish Sport Horse breeds is devised by a Sub Board of the HSI dealing specifically with breeding and related matter. It currently consists of 15 members with ten members elected by breeders through the Irish Horse Board Breeders Co-operative (an organisation that pre-existed HSI and which became affiliated to HSI on establishment), 2 members nominated by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and one representative each from the Northern Ireland Horse Board, the Connemara Pony Breeders Society and the Irish Pony Society.

The Breeding Sub Board has decided to conduct a fundamental review of the Stallion and Mare inspection regimes for the Irish Sport Horse and Irish Draught Horse Studbooks. Pending this review, the sub board decided to suspend the normal spring 2016 stallion inspections.

HSI have informed me that in the interim new applicants for stallion inspection for Irish Draught and Irish Sport Horse breeds will be provided with an opportunity to have their stallions undergo the Studbook veterinary examination and be classified accordingly. Also Irish Sport Horse Stallions who met the requirements for Stage 1 of the Irish Sport Horse inspections in previous years will be facilitated with a Stage 2 inspection.

Horse Sport Ireland will shortly be advertising for submissions in relation to the review, with a closing date of January 11, 2016.