Paul Murphy: 782 Irish Horses Slaughtered in England - Questions Raised
Paul Murphy challenged the minister over new Mirror figures showing 782 Irish horses with Irish passports were slaughtered in England last year and demanded answers on the treatment and fate of those animals. He highlighted that 538 of them had racing industry passports, that at least 46% were five years old or younger, and that many were stressfully transported and slaughtered rather than euthanised or rehomed.
Paul Murphy cited Mirror reporting that 782 horses with Irish passports were slaughtered in England in the last year and noted 538 carried racing industry passports. He emphasised that at least 46% of the animals were five years old or younger and said these were transported and then slaughtered for meat rather than being euthanised.
He asked why horses barely a few years into their lives are being slaughtered for meat rather than rehomed when the industry receives €80 million a year in public funding. Paul Murphy raised concerns about systemic overbreeding and sought clarity on what actions are being taken to secure rehoming pathways.
The Deputy referenced the Government's commitment to "leave no stone unturned" following the RTE Investigates programme into Shannonside and other slaughterhouses. He asked whether that commitment would be met and how follow-up investigations and enforcement would proceed.
The minister acknowledged the issue's importance and told the Deputy a detailed response would be provided later, saying no briefing was available at that time. The exchange ended with Paul Murphy pressing for answers on rehoming, overbreeding and the role of HRI in addressing these welfare concerns.
New figures reported
Paul Murphy cited Mirror reporting that 782 horses with Irish passports were slaughtered in England in the last year and noted 538 carried racing industry passports. He emphasised that at least 46% of the animals were five years old or younger and said these were transported and then slaughtered for meat rather than being euthanised.
Rehoming and public funding
He asked why horses barely a few years into their lives are being slaughtered for meat rather than rehomed when the industry receives €80 million a year in public funding. Paul Murphy raised concerns about systemic overbreeding and sought clarity on what actions are being taken to secure rehoming pathways.
RTE Investigates and Shannonside
The Deputy referenced the Government's commitment to "leave no stone unturned" following the RTE Investigates programme into Shannonside and other slaughterhouses. He asked whether that commitment would be met and how follow-up investigations and enforcement would proceed.
Minister's response and next steps
The minister acknowledged the issue's importance and told the Deputy a detailed response would be provided later, saying no briefing was available at that time. The exchange ended with Paul Murphy pressing for answers on rehoming, overbreeding and the role of HRI in addressing these welfare concerns.
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Transcript
Minister, there are new shocking figures published in the Mirror today about Irish horses slaughtered in English abattoirs. They suggest that 782 horses with Irish passports were slaughtered in England last year. 538 of those had racing industry passports, in other words, they were horse races. They were racing horses. At least 46 per cent of these were just five years old or younger. To be clear, these were not euthanised. They were stressfully transported and then slaughtered for meat in abattoirs. Why are horses, barely a few years into their lives, being slaughtered for their meat rather than being rehomed when this industry receives €80 million a year in public funding? What has happened to the Government's commitment to leave no stone unturned following the RTE Investigates programme into what happened at Shannonside and other slaughterhouses? Are we going to address the issue of rehoming horses? Are we going to deal with the issue of systemic overbreeding of horses and what is happening from HRI? Deputy Murphy is raising a very important issue. The welfare of horses not only are critical to the future of our breeding industry here in Ireland, but we also need to ensure that the right standards are adhered to fulfil the commitments that we do have to animal welfare. I am going to have to revert back to the Deputy and I will, with a detailed answer to your question, because it is important and I do not have a briefing in front of me today that allows me to give the answer that your question deserves. Thank you, Minister.