Ireland needs a register of people who have been convicted of crimes of animal cruelty. Following the "RTÉ Investigates" programme on Shannonside Foods in Straffan, I wrote to the Minister and asked if we could create such a register. He indicated that we do not need one because all cases are reported in the media. That is not the position at all. I will be bringing forward legislation in respect of this matter in the autumn.

I also asked the Minister about the horses that were moved from Straffan following the "RTÉ Investigates" programme. This morning, I received a bizarre reply to a parliamentary question in which the Minister stated that he cannot seize these animals on the basis of a conviction that was handed down 12 years ago. That completely ignores the savagery that was shown on the "RTÉ Investigates" programme. It beggars belief that the Minister is ignoring the latter. How much cruelty does the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine need to see before it seizes the horses and make sure that owner cannot be in possession and so-called care of them?

I assure the Deputy that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine takes animal welfare extremely seriously.

It did not seem so.

There are a number of cases, some of them historical, relating to that particular matter. They are before the courts at the minute, which restricts what we can say. The scenes we saw on the "RTÉ Investigates" programme were unacceptable. We have acted swiftly. Actions were in place prior to that because concerns had been raised. Work is ongoing to ensure that the highest standards will be applicable in this case and all other cases.