Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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454. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 407 of 2 June 2022, the way that it is possible that the two horses that were featured in the television programme (details supplied) last ran in Ireland in July 2019 and were then sent to slaughter in the UK, given the previous response supplied. [33380/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Prior to January 1st 2021, there was a Tripartite Agreement in place between Ireland, France and UK. Under this agreement, equines, except those consigned directly for slaughter, could move between Ireland, the UK and France without veterinary certification. Equines being moved to the UK intended for slaughter required veterinary animal health certification. 

No equines were certified for movement for slaughter from Ireland to establishments in UK in 2019 or 2020 or since 1st January, 2021, when all horses being exported to GB require a veterinary certificate. It is possible that the two horses referred to by the Deputy were moved to the UK for other reasons, and subsequently sent for slaughter.

My Department does not have or hold information on animals once they move outside of Ireland. Once they arrive in the importing country they are subject to relevant rules applying in those countries.