The racing of horse-drawn vehicles on public roads is totally unacceptable and represents a clear and present danger, not just to the operator of the horse-drawn vehicle but also to motorists, pedestrians and the horse itself. A recent incident in Clonmel shocked not just the citizens of Clonmel but also citizens around the country and resulted in a significant public and road safety issue and loss of life, as a horse died on that occasion. It intersects with multiple Departments. It involves the Department of justice from an enforcement perspective, and God knows we need enforcement of existing legislation. It also intersects with the Department of agriculture from the point of view of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 and the Control of Horses Act 1996. I support any measure taken by local authorities around the country that follow Kilkenny County Council's lead to create exclusion zones not only in terms of the racing of horse-drawn vehicles but also the leisurely use of horse-drawn vehicles in town centre areas. It also involves the Department of Transport in the context of existing road traffic legislation. Existing legislation bans the leisurely use and the racing of horse-drawn vehicles on motorways but, incredibly, it allows for the racing of horse-drawn vehicles on all other roads in certain circumstances. I refer to section 74 of the Roads Act 1993 and I am calling for the complete abolition of this section. On 24 April, in my role as Chair of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport, I wrote to the Ministers with responsibility for transport, agriculture and justice requesting an interdepartmental group on this very issue. The purpose of this working group would be to conduct a comprehensive review of the current legislative and regulatory framework, examine road safety risks associated with such horse-drawn vehicles on public roads, strengthen animal welfare protections, assess enforcement powers, consider the introduction of national standards, explore the potential of a licensing and regulatory framework - and I believe they should also be insured - and look at the minimum age in existing legislation. There is no minimum age for driving a horse-drawn vehicle which can travel at up to 50 km an hour with a horse that might weigh up to 400 kg. What I have said reflects the seriousness and the need for urgency in terms of this work. We need co-ordinated action. The committee on transport is available and ready to facilitate this work. This is so serious. I do not say this lightly but if we do not act, we will see loss of life. I ask the Minister of State, if he can, to bring back what I have said to the Minister for Transport and I appreciate him taking this issue tonight.

Sentiment score: 0.07

I thank the Minister of State. The response confirms that under section 74 of the 1993 Act, with the permission of An Garda Síochána and the local authority, a race can be held. Section 74 should be removed from the 1993 Act. It is so difficult to enforce because the legislation allows only for the organiser of the particular race to be prosecuted and it is impossible to identify the organiser. These are matters the committee on transport will follow up. As I mentioned, we have no clear national licensing system. I am really concerned about the minimum age and I will explore with the Minister for agriculture whether it can be dealt with under the Control of Horses Act 1996. There is no equivalence in terms of insurance requirements. The incident in Clonmel resulted in two third-party cars being significantly damaged and those individuals had no comeback. What we have at the moment is a patchwork of old legislation. In the context of Dublin, it goes back to legislation prior to the foundation of the State, which covers the Dublin metropolitan area. It is legislation from the 1850s. We have local by-laws and limited enforcement powers. There is no coherent modern national framework governing the use of horse-drawn vehicles. This is why we need an interdepartmental working group, where we can get officials from the Departments of justice, Transport and agriculture into a room. If somebody gets behind the wheel there are clear rules around age, competency, insurance and enforcement. Unfortunately, similar clarity does not apply to horse-drawn vehicles. As I said, I am sorry to have to say I am convinced, as Chair of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport, that with a failure to act we will see the loss of human life and the continuing loss of equine life.

Sentiment score: -0.07