Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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317. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if Ireland imports any live horses for slaughter in Ireland. [57082/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The movements of horses imported into Ireland from third countries (non-EU Member States) and from other EU Member States are traced using TRACES, the European Commission’s platform for sanitary and phytosanitary certification required for the importation of animals, animal products, food and feed of non-animal origin and plants into the EU and the intra-EU trade and EU exports of animals and certain animal products.

TRACES data from January 2019 to present reviewed by my Department indicate that no third country imports of horses, asses, mules and hinnies for slaughter to Ireland or intra-trade (i.e., between EU countries) movements of horses, asses, mules and hinnies for slaughter to Ireland have taken place.

The Deputy will be aware that imports and intra-trade movements of animals and products of animal origin are, in the first instance, driven by the demands of the market.