Animal Welfare
Seanad Éireann — 2026-02-19
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Chris Andrews (SF), Labour Panel

I thank the Minister of State, and I know he is as horrified as anybody else when he sees the way horses are treated. Sulky racing is a hazard not just for the public, but clearly for the horses that are treated abysmally. It is horrendous, and that poor horse on the N4 is just one of many that were treated brutally. We hear many people talking about how they love their horses, but we do not see much evidence of that from many people who are their guardians.
Clearly, legislation needs to be overhauled. We need to move on from the Dublin Carriage Act 1853. The Minister of State mentioned the money going to welfare services and rescues. If horses were to be seized and taken, there would not be any places for them. There needs to be an investment in all animal rescues. Dogs and horses are treated abysmally and the resources for the rescues that are picking up the pieces of Government failure are not sufficient. They are at their wits' end now and the pressure on volunteers working in these rescues is incredible.
I ask that the legislation be overhauled and that sulky racing be addressed as a matter of urgency.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-02-19/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:39+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-02-19