City deputies anxious for enactment of Horses Bill

DUBLIN TDs pleaded in the Dail for no further delay in having the Control of Horses Bill implemented. The Bill was moved by the Minister of State for Agriculture, Mr Jimmy Deenihan, who said its central feature was to sanction local authority by laws specifying control areas where horses may not be kept without a licence.

The problem of wandering horses in urban areas had reached the stage where it called for resolute legislative action. Straying horses in many towns and cities were causing damage to property traffic accidents and personal injuries.

With the construction of a perimeter road around Dublin there was potential for horrendous carnage as a result of uncontrolled horses.

Under the Bill, a system of identification would be introduced and various methods were being examined - freeze branding, hoof and lip tattooing and microchip implanting.

Penalties under the Bill would be up to £1,500 or six months imprisonment on summary conviction, and £10,000 or two years on indictment.

"I am putting horse owners and others on notice that any acts of cruelly against horses or indeed any animal will bring them face to face with the full rigours of a strengthened law of protection," he said.

Mr Brendan Kenneally (FF, Waterford) who last year introduced a private member's Bill on the subject, welcomed the Government's proposals.

The law on the sale of horses needed to be tightened up, with a restriction on sales to anyone under 18, he said. There should also be a veterinary surgeon, involved and other restrictions which he would propose at committee stage.

Mr Tommy Broughan (Lab, Dublin North East) said the Bill only gave permission to local authorities to make regulations and it would not affect areas like Finglas and Coolock for another year.

Mr Tony Gregory (Ind, Dublin Central) said there were some welcome developments like the setting aside of land by Dublin Corporation at Cherry Orchard where horses could be kept in a controlled and responsible way. The Minister should be giving local authorities incentives to do more of that.

Ms Roisin Shortall (Lab, Dublin North West) said a lot of cruelty had been inflicted on horses by young people who did not know how to handle them or I keep them properly.

The debate was adjourned.