Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 May 2024
411. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he was aware of recent price increases in horse passport registration fees by Horse Sport Ireland; if he has any role in setting prices for foal passports; if he can reverse the decision of the HSI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20664/24]
View answerFollowing a competitive procurement process carried out in 2022, Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) was awarded the contract from 2023 to deliver studbook services for the Irish Sport Horse, Irish Draught, Irish Sport Pony, Irish Cob and Irish Partbred Cob breeds.
The contract requires HSI to operate breeding programmes for these breeds in accordance with the rules of the EU Animal Breeding Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2016/1012). The contract does not provide any public funding to HSI for delivering this service. It provides the right to administer the stud books which includes the right to charge fees to clients who wish to avail of their stud book services.
Fees charged by breed societies, including HSI, for the services they provide are a matter for the individual breed societies. My Department does not have a role in setting these prices.
