Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1444. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been brought to allegations that the passports of Connemara ponies are being tampered with prior to sale of the ponies (details supplied); the steps he will take to investigate the matter and to eliminate the practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22066/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Connemara Pony Breeders Society (CPBS) has been approved by my Department to maintain the Studbook for Connemara Ponies and in this regard operate a breeding programme for the breed. The identification of genetic defects and their elimination where possible is part of such a breeding programme.

The CPBS in conjunction with Weatherbys have been carrying out research which has enabled it to test for the presence of the Hoof Wall Separation Disease gene. Since 2015, my Department have been providing funding to the CPBS under the Equine Infrastructures Scheme to facilitate this initiative. The results of the genetic testing are stamped on the Connemara Pony identification passport.

The CPBS has made my Department aware of alleged tampering to their passports. Tampering with passports is a very serious matter, be it equine ID information, information regarding the hoof wall separation disease genetic defect or any other information on the identification document being altered and should in the first instance be notified to the Gardaí. Regulation 34 of Statutory Instrument 62 of 2016 (European Union (Identification of Equidae) Regulations 2016) refers that a person involved in forgery and tampering with identification documents commits an offence.

My Department will investigate the matter further with the Society, in particular the security aspects of the passports, in an effort to eliminate this practice.