49 Mr. Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry whether he will refuse to introduce a compulsory foal registration levy to finance the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association which is strongly opposed by the vast majority of horse breeders in Ireland. [10740/97]

The Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association have put certain proposals to me regarding the introduction of a mandatory foal levy. The Irish Horseracing Authority has supported such a development in its Strategic Plan for the Development of the Irish Thoroughbred Racing Industry 1997-2001. In its strategic plan the authority stated that breeders made a case for the introduction of a statutory foal levy which would replace the current voluntary sales and foal levies and which would enable the finances of the association to be put on a secure footing and enable the association to make a greater contribution to the Irish Equine Centre and the funding of Irish thoroughbred marketing.

I am at present having all aspects of these proposals carefully considered.