Drug use and horse welfare
Senator Andrews endorsed a health-led approach to drug addiction before shifting to a visit to My Lovely Horse Animal Rescue and the scale of horse neglect. The exchange ended with Senator O'Loughlin's brief interjection, which was absorbed into the same topic.
I agree with Senator Fitzpatrick's comments in relation to the RTÉ "Prime Time" report entitled Cocaine Kids. For anybody living in the inner city, it was nothing new and revealed nothing new to them. As she said, it is really important that we have a health-led approach to drug use. I agree with and acknowledge that.
Last week, I went to visit My Lovely Horse Animal Rescue. It was an incredible visit. There are horses, pigs, goats and donkeys - everything is there. It was incredible for two reasons. It was incredible because the number of horses there was shocking and depressing. I have never seen so many horses in one place. Maybe I am a city person, but I do not think-----
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The Senator should come to Kildare.
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Even in Kildare we would not see that number of horses in one small area. It was absolutely shocking to see so many horses, and they were all rescue horses. We hear a lot about how we are a horse-loving nation but, sadly, a visit to My Lovely Horse Animal Rescue would suggest that this is not true. When we see the horseracing industry getting €80 million per year and then we see the huge number of horses in rescues, we know something is not working. The cruelty of horses that is tolerated in this country is shameful, whether it is sulky racing, plain neglect of horses that do not run fast enough or just sad neglect. The Government allows this to happen. There are no laws, and there is no enforcement. Every one of those horses and donkeys represents a failure of the Government in animal welfare. My Lovely Horse Animal Rescue spends almost €2 million every year and gets less than €100,000 in Government support. My Lovely Horse Animal Rescue and rescues like it all around the country are picking up the tab for the failure by the Government in animal welfare. Everyone in the Dáil and Seanad should visit My Lovely Horse Animal Rescue. It should be almost compulsory. The other reason it was an incredible visit was because of the commitment, compassion and kindness the staff there show. It is a 24-7 operation. The work they do is so important and it has to be acknowledged more by the Government.