Yesterday, another video containing the distressing image of a horse being killed in Clonmel, County Tipperary, was circulated. The video, which is absolutely sickening, shows a horse terrified and out of control being forced to run on a public road with a child no older than 13 years of age in charge. That child obviously had no training or protection, and there was no regard for life. The video ended the only way it could end in tragedy, fear, chaos and the brutal death of a horse. That horse ran for hundreds of metres in panic, crashing into cars as it did so. Imagine the terror and pain experienced by that animal as it lay there suffering, its blood gushing out onto the pavement and street, and waiting for help that came too late. This is cruelty - pure and simple. It is not just the animal that paid the price. What about the people in those cars and the 13-year-old involved? How many more near misses, injuries or deaths are we going to accept before something changes? Only recently, a horse named Anne and her unborn foal were brutalised to death on the Ballyfermot Road. Where is the accountability? Where is the enforcement? Where is the protection for these animals? Enough is enough.

Sulky racing is like a cancer on society. We need real action. There needs to be proper enforcement. There also needs to be a dedicated Garda animal crime unit to tackle animal cruelty like this, because silence is part of the problem. Staying quiet means that it will happen again. The Minister for agriculture clearly does not give a damn. The evidence suggests that he does not give a damn. How much more death and destruction of horses is needed before sulky racing is banned? When will the Minister for agriculture, Deputy Heydon, stop looking away and do something? I ask that he come before the House for a debate on sulky racing and animal welfare. Week after week, there are horrific events like this happening.