Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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179. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the obligations of the Turf Club to ensure animal welfare standards are met; the role and obligations of the Turf Club in investigating breaches of those standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33958/16]

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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180. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the obligations of the Turf Club to ensure animal welfare standards are met and its role and obligations in investigating breaches of those standards have changed since 2011. [33959/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 179 and 180 together.

Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) is a commercial state body responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry. The Racing Regulatory Body (Irish Turf Club) is a private body charged under legislation with responsibility for the integrity and the reputation of Irish racing in Ireland and Internationally.

The questions raised by the Deputy are an operational matter for the Turf Club.

The Turf Club has assured me that attention to horse welfare is threaded throughout its Rules and processes. Rules were changed in July 2013 to now make the trainer responsible for everything connected with the welfare, training and running of all horses under the care of that trainer.