Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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1791. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the role of his Department to ensure that regulatory and animal welfare standards are adhered to in respect of horses exported from the State destined for horse abattoirs in other states; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46511/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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The trade in equine animals for slaughter is regulated by European and Irish legislation on animal health, welfare and traceability, which my Department enforces.  Equine animals traded for slaughter to other EU Member States require veterinary certification, and are subject to inspection by my Department’s official veterinarians with regard to their health, traceability and welfare.

My Department continues to drive compliance with the legislation by continually updating operating procedures around the intra-community trade of horses for slaughter.

I am committed to building on progress to date, and to implementing a new equine traceability system, in line with the recommendations of the Wall Report, so that the health and welfare of horses is protected, particularly while being traded to other countries for slaughter.