Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon has called for renewed action against sulky racing due to growing concerns surrounding animal welfare.
In a statement issued to RTÉ News, the Fine Gael TD representing Kildare South said the activity taking place on public roads and motorways “is not acceptable to me from both an animal welfare and road safety perspective”, reports RTE.
Mr Heydon also stated that he intends to make dealing with the issue a priority.
Speaking during the same weekend that hundreds attended an animal welfare protest in Co Tipperary following the death of a horse in a collision with a car during a sulky race in Clonmel in March, Minister Heydon said further action is required, reports RTE.
He said that over the coming days he plans to speak with Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan and Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien to examine the matter further.
The minister added that the issue is expected to be included in his forthcoming five-year animal welfare strategy, reports RTE.
He said: “I take the issue of animal welfare very seriously, and I am finalising our next five-year animal welfare strategy where I will be laying out my key priorities in the sector.
“Last year, my department allocated over €6m to a wide range of animal welfare groups who carry out great work around the country”, reports RTE.
Minister Heydon said sulky racing on roads and motorways “is not acceptable to me from both an animal welfare and road safety perspective”.
“It is something I am raising with my colleagues in Government through the departments of transport and justice,” he added, reports RTE.
The minister said fellow Fine Gael TD Michael Murphy “is also seeking to establish an inter-departmental working group to tackle this in his capacity as chairman of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and I am supporting him from the animal welfare perspective”.
“People who willfully neglect animals will face the full rigours of the law,” he said, reports RTE.
“I will continue to work with colleagues in Government to ensure that those laws are sufficiently robust and properly enforced,” Minister Heydon added.
The remarks come after a protest was held yesterday in Co Tipperary in support of animal welfare following the March incident involving a horse during a sulky race, reports RTE.
The Walk in Solidarity demonstration from Irishtown to the Plaza in Clonmel was organised by Labour councillor Michael Brennan, Independent councillor Liam Browne, and animal welfare charity My Lovely Horse Rescue.
“When it comes to animal cruelty and road safety, action has to be taken,” Mr Brennan told RTÉ News, reports RTE.
He added: “If I never get a pothole filled, but could do something on this, I’d be very happy.”
My Lovely Horse Rescue is calling for the use of sulkies on public roads to be banned, reports RTE.
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