Calls have been made for the urgent introduction of a ban on the export of horses for slaughter as new figures show the unlicensed trade is continuing.
Figures obtained by The Irish Times show there were €154,000 worth of horse exports for slaughter registered with the Revenue Commissioners last year compared to €336,000 in 2002 and just €20,000 in 2001.
Exports are continuing despite the fact that the Department of Agriculture refuses to issue licences to exporters, citing a traditional State policy against the trade.
Ms Sharon Newsome, director of the Irish Horse Welfare Trust, which yesterday announced plans for a public campaign against the "cruel" form of live exports, said that while the figures proved the trade was continuing, the actual volume of exports was much higher.
"Most exports are not being recorded at all. It suits the Department that way because if people knew the true scale of the trade there would be much more pressure on the Department to introduce legislation."
She was speaking at a press conference in Dublin where broadcaster Tracy Piggott joined racehorse owner and former Irish soccer international Niall Quinn in becoming the first signatories of a petition calling for legislation banning the trade.
The Department of Agriculture confirmed that it did not issue export certificates for horses for slaughter. However, it said, the trade was a "legitimate" one, covered by EU regulations. Britain has moved to stop the practice by introducing a law prohibiting the export of horses under a certain value.
The Minister for Agriculture, Mr Walsh, told the Dáil last March that he had been advised a similar rule here "would constitute an unlawful barrier to free trade". The Green Party is considering drawing up a Private Members' Bill on the issue.The chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food, Mr Johnny Brady, said it was seeking a meeting with Mr Walsh on the issue.
