andMiss Barry asked the Minister for Agriculture if horses coming from other countries to sales arenas in this country are subject to the same restrictions on movement as Irish horses.

Horses can only be imported into this country under permit issued by my Department. Following importation such horses are subject to the same official movement requirements as Irish horses, i.e. that the animals are transported in suitable vehicles to protect them from injury and unnecessary suffering during loading, unloading and transport as required by the Transit of Animals (General) Order 1973.