Madam,

This is an open letter to Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon. Minister, it was encouraging to read the latest progress report on equine welfare and traceability in Ireland. Your determination to follow through with the initiatives put forward by the Wall Report are admirable and much appreciated.

But, I have to take issue with the claim in the latest progress report (Agriland.ie March 2nd), where you say that progress has been made across all five of the plan’s key objectives, including ‘Highest level of protection for Horses at end of life’. This claim is simply not true.

Yes, closing Shannonside protected the horses destined for slaughter there, but the consequence of that closure is, as your department is well aware, the growing trade in live export of horses for slaughter in the UK and Europe.

The ‘problem’ has simply been exported to other countries and Ireland is in no position at all to claim that it has made progress in protecting horses at end of life. We have, in fact, done the opposite.

Whilst Ireland remains without a suitable equine slaughterhouse, surely it is time to give consideration to a subsidised euthanasia scheme, and also for the racing authorities, who are in a position through regulation to dictate acceptable end of life options for thoroughbreds, to also act to end the growing live export trade which continues to damage the reputation of the bloodstock industry.

Yours.

Debby Ewing,

Shropshire (formerly Wexford)