Horse Sport Ireland

Politician(s) lobbied: Nina Carberry (MEP), European Parliament; Seán Kelly (MEP), European Parliament

Intent: To highlight the significant role of the sport horse sector in Ireland and Ireland’s standing as a key player at European level, and to represent Ireland at this important forum for European equine policy to the voice of the Irish sport horse sector is included.

Methods: Meeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Bill Clear (Councillor), Kildare County Council

Intent: To give Cllr Clear a good understanding of Horse Sport Ireland's work and the challenges facing the sector, given his role as Independent Ireland's Spokesperson on Defence and the Equestrian Industry.

Methods: Meeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Seán Canney (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; John Connolly (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Albert Dolan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Mairéad Farrell (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Noel Grealish (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Hildegarde Naughton (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Louis O'Hara (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Peter Roche (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Shane Curley (Senator), Seanad; PJ Murphy (Senator), Seanad; Ollie Crowe (Senator), Seanad; Seán Kyne (Senator), Seanad; Anne Rabbitte (Senator), Seanad; Peter Burke (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Robert Troy (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Kevin Boxer Moran (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Micheál Carrigy (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Sorca Clarke (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Pat Buckley (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Colm Burke (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Jerry Buttimer (Minister of State), Department of Rural and Community Development; Holly Cairns (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Michael Collins (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Thomas Gould (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Eoghan Kenny (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Micheál Martin (An Taoiseach), Department of the Taoiseach; Noel McCarthy (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Seamus McGrath (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Aindrias Moynihan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Michael Moynihan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; James O'Connor (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Ken O'Flynn (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; John Paul O'Shea (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Christopher O'Sullivan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Pádraig O'Sullivan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Liam Quaide (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Pádraig Rice (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Nessa Cosgrove (Senator), Seanad; Laura Harmon (Senator), Seanad; Garret Kelleher (Senator), Seanad; Eileen Lynch (Senator), Seanad; Noel O'Donovan (Senator), Seanad; Nicole Ryan (Senator), Seanad; Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Senator), Seanad; Brian Brennan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; James Browne (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Malcolm Byrne (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; George Lawlor (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Verona Murphy (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Johnny Mythen (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Cathal Byrne (Senator), Seanad; Joe Cooney (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Cathal Crowe (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Timmy Dooley (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Donna McGettigan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Martin Conway (Senator), Seanad

Intent: To outline to Oireachtas members the funding allocated under the National Breeding Services Grant Scheme to their county and the benefits of the scheme.

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Martin Heydon (Minister), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Intent: To press for horse welfare to be central in the new policy and to outline actions needed.

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Minister), Department of Health

Intent: For equestrian sport to be recognised within the new Healthy Ireland Framework as an activity that contributes positively to the health and wellbeing of the general population.::For equine-based activities and projects to be enabled to access Healthy Ireland funding streams to support delivery, inclusion, and long-term sustainability.

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Martin Heydon (Minister), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Intent: HSI called for CAP to:• Maintain and strengthen all CAP supports available to equine farmers. • Improve outreach and communication to increase scheme participation. • Retain equine eligibility in TAMS. • Protect and enhance ACRES supports for rare native breeds. • Focus on Horse Welfare. • Considering towards the next generation of equine farmers.

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Patrick O'Donovan (Minister), Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media

Intent: To ensure that the future of the sport horse sector in Ireland and across the EU is considered in policy discussions during the Irish EU Presidency.::To ensure that the proposed EU Regulation on Animal Transport (2023/0448) and the revision of the Package Travel Directive are discussed during the Irish EU Presidency, with the views of the equine industry taken into account in these EU legislative processes.

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Simon Harris (Minister), Department of Finance; Martin Heydon (Minister), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Darragh O'Brien (Minister), Department of Transport; Seán Canney (Minister of State), Department of Transport; Kevin 'Boxer' Moran (Minister of State), Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform; Brian Purcell (Adviser to Minister), Department of Agriculture and the Marine; Barry Cassidy (Special Adviser), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Conor Gallagher (Adviser to Minister), Department of Transport; Siobhan Russell (Adviser to Minister), Department of Transport; Sarah Bardon (Chief of Staff), Department of the Taoiseach; Jack O'Donnell (Special Advisor to the Tanaiste), Department of Foreign Affairs; Niall O'Connor (Special Advisor to the Tanaiste), Department of Finance; Sean Bell (Chief Economist), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Intent: For the sport horse and equestrian sector to be included in any measures or subsidies introduced by the government to ease the burden of the high cost of fuel.

Methods: Informal communicationEmailPhone call

Politician(s) lobbied: Dara Calleary (Minister), Department of Rural and Community Development; Darragh Gallagher (Special Adviser), Department of Rural and Community Development

Intent: To see greater recognition of equine activities in funding streams under Minister Dara Calleary's department.::To have the sport horse sector is recognised as a vital element of rural communities within the Our Rural Future policy.

Methods: EmailInformal communicationMeeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Seán Ó Fearghaíl (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas

Intent: That the group's remit be extended to also include the sport horse sector.

Methods: MeetingEmail