Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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1032. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the percentage of horses that are microchipped nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13340/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The legislation governing the identification of equines is Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/262, as transposed into national legislation via S.I. 62 of 2016.

As required by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/262, my Department's central equine database records the registration details of equines issued with passports by approved Passport Issuing Organisations (PIOs) in the State as well as the registration details of equines resident in Ireland but issued with passports by approved PIOs outside the State. These database registrations date back to 1st January 1980.

Of the live equines recorded on the central equine database, 55% have microchip numbers associated with them. It should be noted that 51% of all live equines recorded on the database were identified with passports prior to 1st July 2009 and therefore are not required to be implanted with a microchip.

The identity of an equine is determined by the unique equine life number (UELN) assigned by an approved passport issuing organisation (PIO) to the single lifetime identification document (passport) issed in respect of that equine. While the microchip number is recorded on the passport and provides a link between the animal and its identification document, the microchip is not an identification mechanism in its own right.

All equines in respect of which a passport issued from 1st July 2009 are required to be implanted with a microchip, the number of which must be recorded on the passport document. All equines issued with a passport prior to 1st July 2009 are deemed to be properly identified in accordance with this legislation and accordingly are not required to be implanted with a microchip.