Dublin City Councillors have passed an emergency motion calling for the regulation of horse and carriage operators in the capital.
It follows a number of incidents, including the collapse of a horse outside Christchurch Cathedral, and episodes of dangerous driving, passenger injuries and anti-social behaviour, understood to have happened outside the Guinness Storehouse.
Diageo says it raised long-standing concerns about safety with relevant authorities and the Government and wants to see greater regulation of horse and carriage operators.
Traditional carriage owners say they also want to see a proper licensing system for the sector, to prevent rogue operators and protect animal welfare.
The horse and carriage sector in Dublin is currently regulated by a law that pre-dates the foundation of the State, the Dublin Carriages Act of 1853.
However, the introduction of the 2001 Local Government Act prevented local authorities making by-laws where power exists elsewhere.
That meant that Dublin City Council no longer had the power to regulate horse-drawn carriages and it is the only local authority in the country unable to do so.
Chair of Dublin City Council’s Animal Welfare Oversight Committee Deirdre Heney proposed the emergency motion to Dublin City Council, describing the current situation as an accident waiting to happen.
“Currently any child 16 years or over can drive a carriage horse around our city and Dublin City Council has absolutely no powers to regulate that carriage horse driver or the carriage that the horses drive is pulling behind it.
“No powers to regulate the licensing, the licence plate, the actual driver, whether that person knows the basic rules of the road, whether that person has any serious road traffic or animal welfare convictions, whether that carriage meets the basic requirements of road worthiness.
“So, we have no powers, because of a lacuna in the law and I believe it’s an accident waiting to happen.”
Traditional operators also want the sector regulated, among them David Mulreany of Mulreanys Carriages, who says change is needed in the interest of the horses and the people using horse drawn carriages
“We’ve been working on these streets since we were 16 years old. Back then, we had to get licences, drivers were vetted, the carriages were insured, carriages were inspected, the horses were vet checked,” he said.
“When you got pulled in, you had a plate on the side of your carriage to identify it. Now it’s a different kettle of fish altogether.
“Five years ago, myself and the lads here on St Stephen’s Green went to the Minister for Transport with a letter begging for this to be brought into place. And not a word was said.
“Lately we’re hearing bad stories that horses are underweight, horses pulling carriages that are too big for them, or overloading and stuff like that.
“Regulations would look after the tourists in the carriages, look after the drivers in general and make it easier on Dublin City Council to watch who’s doing this, to police it properly, because it’s become self-policing at the moment, and it shouldn’t be.”
A spokesperson for Diageo says it has raised concerns about some horse and carriages operating in the vicinity of the Guinness Storehouse, which is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the country.
“We have long-standing concerns about the safety risks associated with the operation of horse and carriages located close to the Guinness Storehouse, concerns that we have continued to raise with relevant authorities and Government bodies.
“The Guinness Storehouse is not affiliated with any horse and carriage operators, and we would encourage an acceleration of existing proposals for greater regulation of horse and carriage operators, to ensure the safety and protection of those visiting the Guinness Storehouse and the wider public of Dublin 8.”
The Department of Transport says it wants to see this issue resolved and updated to reflect modern best practice and it says work to give the council appropriate legal basis to regulate this area is ongoing.
“The development of new legislation requires the repeal of legislation which pre-dates the foundation of the State.
“Work to ensure that the Council is provided with an appropriate legal basis to regulate this area is currently ongoing and the Horse Drawn Carriages Bill was listed on the Government’s Legislative Programme for Summer 2024.”
