Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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694. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a detailed breakdown in tabular form of the total number of cases brought for prosecutions relating to equine welfare by year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9699/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 provides a modern framework for applying standards in the area of animal health and welfare and replaced a number of enactments dating back over a century.

It is important to note that not all investigations lead to prosecution. Many cases are effectively dealt with the use of administrative sanctions for example through the issue of welfare notices

Where appropriate, prosecutions under the Act have been pursued following investigations by authorised officers of my Department, An Garda Síochána and authorised officers of the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. These officers investigate matters relating to animal cruelty and neglect and, where the evidence supports such action, a file is prepared and the matter is pursued through the Courts.

The statistics set down below, relate to the total number of equine welfare prosecution cases finalised in each year since 2014, at the suit of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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695. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of cases that are pending relating to equine welfare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9700/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Prosecutions under the Animal Health and Act 2013 are pursued following investigations by authorised officers of the Department, An Garda Síochána and authorised officers of the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. These officers investigate matters relating to animal cruelty and neglect and, where the evidence supports such action, a file is prepared and the matter pursued through the Courts.

There are currently four equine welfare prosecution cases pending, taken at the suit of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013.

My Department does not have data on further cases that may be pending taken by An Garda Síochána or local authorities.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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696. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he finds it appropriate that an individual reportedly involved in equine cruelty (details supplied) remains free to work in racing and breeding and to attend race meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9701/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) is a commercial state body established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001, and is responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry.

The matters raised by the Deputy are an operational matter for HRI, therefore, the question has been referred to HRI for direct reply.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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697. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline in detail the roles played by an organisation (details supplied) and his Department in relation to an alleged case of equine cruelty; the reason no proper excavation of the site in question was carried out at the time to see the carcasses that were buried; the reason the horses involved were not immediately seized when evidence arose of non-compliance with welfare regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9702/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I advise the Deputy that the Irish Thoroughbred (Welfare) Council provides advice to Horse Racing Ireland on welfare issues and has no role in enforcement.

My Department takes animal welfare concerns very seriously and addresses specific cases with a focus on safeguarding the animals affected. To be perfectly clear in relation to this case, the Animal Welfare notice issued to the individual concerned, as described in the Irish Independent article you refer to, was followed up, that Department officials visited the relevant farm on seven separate occasions in 2022 and that this engagement is ongoing.

My Department’s role in both cases referred to in the article is to safeguard animal welfare using enforcement powers provided for in the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013.

I cannot comment on operational decisions in individual cases, particularly when these matters are not yet concluded.