Legislative Measures
Dail Éireann — 2026-05-19
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Christopher O'Sullivan (FF), Cork South-West

Deputy Murphy has highlighted some very important aspects of this. The law is old and it probably has not been reviewed in a while. The legislative programme is jam packed and very busy but his suggestion of an interdepartmental group, certainly with the Departments of agriculture, Transport and justice in particular, to review the legislation would be very important. Clearly, and I can say this not being in any of those Departments but as a TD, that it does not seem fit for purpose, especially if only the organiser can be prosecuted under the legislation.
It is certainly something we need to look at. In the meantime, I appeal to the better nature of anyone involved in this first of all not to do it. There are legal organised events out there on field tracks and purpose-built race tracks. They are done legally and run professionally. What is happening and what I have seen happen on the roads is nothing short of a disgrace and it needs to be clamped down on. I urge those involved to think of people and the potential road traffic accidents, but also to think of the shocking pain. It is heartbreaking to hear these animals scream in their final breath. It is something I think has touched the hearts of the entire nation when I see it. The hunger and appetite from the general public for this to be addressed is very strong. I say well done again for raising it.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-05-19/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-28T05:50:46+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-05-19