POLITICIANS across the board spoke with a unified voice on the key issues of equine traceability and for all owners of animals to be fully accountable. The issue of horse welfare dominated the agenda of Wednesday’s meeting of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

Tipperary Deputy Jackie Cahill (FF) said: “My county has had a good few examples - horses driven to collapse on the roads, others starving in Knocklofty. I’m a farmer and there is very strict regulations. There is a significant number of horses out there that are not microchipped and until we have this kind of traceability, how can we be confident that we have control of them? Education is very important, ownership of animals comes with responsibility.