THE Department of Agriculture plans to launch a new central equine database in “the next few weeks” which the Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon claims will be “transformational” in improving equine traceability.

Last March the Department published a report compiled by Prof Paddy Wall which proposed a series of recommendations to strengthen equine identification, traceability and welfare.

The report was commissioned following the broadcasting of an RTÉ investigation into the equine sector and how rogue traders and operators were falsifying horse passports in order to make money.

In August the Minister said that the project to build a new equine traceability system was at “an advanced stage and on track to conclude by the end of the year”. He said that the foundation of the new system was the 2024 equine census returns and these have already been converted into equine herd profiles, similar to the cattle system.

Last weekend Minister Heydon raised the topic at the Irish Racehorse Owners Awards. He said: “The Central Equine Database contains every active equine premises number and the number of horses located on that premises. Over time, critical control points will be built into the system and operators will not be allowed to present a horse for sale, export or competition unless they can show the horse’s location on the database.

“This system will be transformational for the sector and will require all horse owners and keepers to engage with the Department far more frequently than before. I know change is uncomfortable, but my Department’s IT team has developed an easy-to-use system to keep your administrative burden to a minimum.”

No prosecutions

Critics will argue that the majority of bad actors in the sector do not engage with the Department’s annual census and there have been no prosecutions or seizures for those who don’t comply.

The Minister acknowledged: “The most frequent request emerging from stakeholder engagement and the public consultation was for more visible enforcement of the legislation governing traceability and welfare. The majority of stakeholders take excellent care of their animals, and they are frustrated by what they see as a lack of consequences for those that don’t take the same care.”

Earlier, David Hyland, chairman of the Association of Irish Racehorse Owners, said: “Each and every one of us has a duty of care and responsibility for all the animals we own. As an industry, we all need to collectively come together and lead the way in terms of welfare and traceability from birth to death in this country.

“We live in a world where every little thing that we say and do is documented and open to social scrutiny, so my advice is to make sure that we always err on the side of caution and make yourself aware of where your horses are at all times.

“If you sell them, sign your change of ownership form and always be cognisant of how every action may be perceived by the wider world.”

There has been no horse abattoir in Ireland since the Shannonside Foods plant in Straffan was closed by the Department in the wake of the 2024 RTÉ programme and this has led to an increase in the number of horses being exported from Ireland for slaughter.

Last month the Minister said that there have been 560 horses exported out of the country for slaughter on the continent since August 2024, according to the European Commission’s online animal health certification database. Many more are known to have been exported to Britain, often via Northern Ireland to avoid detection.

Speaking at the Irish Racehorse Owner Awards, Minister Heydon said: “My Department is working with interested parties to facilitate the establishment of an end-of-life facility. Two notifications of intent have been submitted to operate an equine slaughter premises. One submission has passed the initial stage and that applicant is engaging with the relevant departments to progress their application. I’m hopeful that an equine slaughter plant will be established in 2026.”