Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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194. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will initiate a full audit into the alleged issuing of duplicate passports by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26663/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I am not aware of any allegations of non-compliance with regard to the issuing of duplicate passports by the named organisation. The identification and registration of equine animals is underpinned by EU legislation, namely, Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/963. It requires equines to be identified by a ‘single lifetime identification document’ commonly known as an 'equine passport' which can be issued by the competent authority, or as applicable, by a delegated body. In the case of our jurisdiction, delegated bodies are authorised 'Passport Issuing Organisations' which includes the named organisation.

This legislation provides for the issuing of duplicate identification documents and the rules concerning this. A duplicate identification document may be issued where the original document is lost or the animal is identified outside the required timeframe i.e. 12 months from the date of birth. These document are marked to exclude the equine animal from slaughter for human consumption.

I understand that the procedures in place for the application process in the organisation in question include a veterinarian scanning and recording the microchip, taking a hair sample for DNA analysis and certifying the information provided. The organisation is in a position to verify the duplicate application against the original documentation before issuing a duplicate identification document.