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VAT on newspapers likely to be abolished, Taoiseach indicates

Government discussions about slashing the VAT rate are underway.

TAOISEACH MICHEÁL MARTIN has said the Government are looking at abolishing VAT on newspapers in this year’s budget. 

Speaking to reporters in the Irish Consulate on Park Avenue in New York, the Taoiseach said he is “positively disposed” to cutting Ireland’s 9% VAT rate for newspapers. 

Following the publication of the Future of Media Commission report, the Taoiseach said they wanted to do “everything we possibly can” to ensure that print media survive, stating that it is operating in a “very difficult environment”. 

“We will be examining that positively,” he said, adding that it is under consideration at the moment as budget negotiations kick up a gear over the weekend ahead of budget day on Tuesday.

“It is an issue that is on the table certainly,” he said. 

The media has proven itself throughout the pandemic, in terms of bringing information to people, he said. 

The Taoiseach said it goes to the heart of what is being debated in the United Nations in terms of the centrality of the media to democracy. 

It is unclear if the move extends to online subscriptions and all news providers or just physical newspapers.

Both Sinn Feín and Labour have also called for the 0% VAT rate on newspapers in their alternative budgets. 

The Future of Media Commission was set up by the Government in 2020 to examine the future of Ireland’s broadcast, print and online media, and to consider how it can remain sustainable and deliver public service aims over the next decade.

The report made 50 recommendations.

The VAT rate on print and digital newspapers in Ireland is among the highest in Europe.

Other countries such as Denmark, the UK, Belgium, Norway, Austria and France have a zero or reduced tax rate. 

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27 Comments
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    Mute Martin Ryan
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    Jun 9th 2014, 4:53 PM

    Whoever was in charge of that sulky should get at least 2yrs jail.

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    Mute Chris Judge
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    Jun 9th 2014, 4:55 PM

    And none of it suspended.

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    Mute Karen
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    Jun 9th 2014, 5:00 PM

    Because it broke away and it was an accident get real.

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    Mute Chris Judge
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    Jun 9th 2014, 5:01 PM

    Karen,

    They shouldn’t be on the roads in the first place. Especially busy ones because of accidents like this.

    810
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    Mute Karen
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    Jun 9th 2014, 5:05 PM

    Obviously they shouldn’t. But they are cause no where else for them to go. Like my comment below says. Fix it.

    20
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    Mute Tom Collins
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    Jun 9th 2014, 5:11 PM

    Like we never saw this coming. These guys race down motorways with no respect for anyone’s lives and certainly not the horse who is repeatedly whipped. The laws of horse ownership have simply got to change in this country.

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    Mute Moe Ragel
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    Jun 9th 2014, 5:12 PM

    Karen, you’re joking yeah?? They’re on the roads because there’s no where else for them to go?.. Have you seen the amount of fields in this country?
    Jesus.

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    Mute Karen
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    Jun 9th 2014, 5:15 PM

    The horse broke away???????? Moe what part dont you understand?
    The fields are owned and if caught on them arrested and charged. Hell you cant even walk your dog in majority of fields in Ireland anymore.
    Special fields or areas assigned would make sense.
    You are joking right?

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    Mute Sandbag
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    Jun 9th 2014, 5:19 PM

    By your logic, it is therefore ok to drive an unlicensed motorbike or quad in a public place because there’s ‘nowhere else’ to use it. There’s no obligation on the state to facilitate this practice on public roads, and there’s nothing stopping those interested in sulky racing from forming an organisation & securing the use of land for this. However that would require proper rules, equipment, insurance & the involvement of vets; it’s far cheaper to endanger & intimidate other road users on public roads, then leg it when something like this happens.

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    Mute Richard Rodgers
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    Jun 9th 2014, 5:27 PM

    Karen
    You now want us to purchase land so these people can have horses! Why don’t we just ket them graze the Phoenix Park and we can then sub divide Farmleigh so they can stay overnight to look after them and sure if the demand is greater than we thought then we can ask the new US Ambassador to put a bed in the Embassy and we can use that building too!
    Where can I purchase a ticket that will allow me travel to your planet as I would love to see where you live because it’s not remotely real!

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    Mute charley bird
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    Jun 9th 2014, 5:35 PM

    I want a dirt bike but have nowhere to go on it,can I go out on the roads with no insurance or training?one rule for travellers!!

    368
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    Mute Marlon Major
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    Jun 9th 2014, 5:39 PM

    Children and adults joy riding on busy motor vehicle roads. Dogs roaming around free. People dumping their trash anywhere they wish. People not cleaning up after themselves and their dogs. People flunking the theory part of their driver test and jumping in their car and driving away. Murderers getting less years than a robber. Rapists getting no jail time.

    Ireland…. The Ireland country struggling to move from the Wild Wild West of yester year to a country of the first world existence.

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    Mute Tom Collins
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    Jun 9th 2014, 5:40 PM

    Karen, have a look at this please. http://youtu.be/uuMS3WRGIvQ

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    Mute Charles
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    Jun 9th 2014, 5:41 PM

    Get a grip karen

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    Mute Charles
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    Jun 9th 2014, 5:42 PM

    Karen, leave it go.

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    Mute Sarah O'Sullivan
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    Jun 9th 2014, 5:46 PM

    I do see where you’re coming from Karen in that providing designated areas or tracks for sulky racing would mean that they wouldn’t be causing a nuisance on public roads, however it would have no real impact on horse welfare or legitimise the sport in any way. The manner in which the majority of these poor creatures are broken, trained and kept is pretty deplorable and is a huge horse welfare issue.

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    Mute Tom Collins
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    Jun 9th 2014, 5:47 PM

    Marlon, stick to school shootings and drone attacks. You know something a little closer to home for you.

    28
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    Mute Karen
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    Jun 9th 2014, 6:16 PM

    Sarah proper vets or inspectors go to said areas and advise anyone who looks like they are struggling?
    And if badly taken care of removed from that persons care and fined?
    But thanks for being an open minded human and not like rest here :) Solutions are needed and the way it is now is not working.

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    Mute Karen
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    Jun 9th 2014, 6:17 PM

    When at race courses or training courses.

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    Mute pg
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    Jun 9th 2014, 6:48 PM

    Travellers….don’t give a shit about anyone except themselves …don’t hear pavee point condemning this !

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    Mute Tommy C
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    Jun 9th 2014, 6:57 PM

    Marlon you can always move home to Hickville USA.

    29
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    Mute Rain bow
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    Jun 9th 2014, 7:26 PM

    Enough.

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    Mute Daithi O'Laoghaire
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    Jun 9th 2014, 8:38 PM

    They did! They tweeted me to say it was horrific overnight. I’ve mentioned this already on here today.

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    Mute John Errity
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    Jun 9th 2014, 9:18 PM

    Horses were using the road befor cars. were they not

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    Mute Adrieanne Murphy
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    Jun 9th 2014, 9:33 PM

    If you don’t have the land to ride it on you shouldn’t own a horse.

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    Mute William Ruane
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    Jun 9th 2014, 9:56 PM

    How are these still allowed on public roads daft bloody country!

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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Jun 10th 2014, 12:01 AM

    No law for Travellers, only applies to settled people, you know, the ones that pay tax, bloody disgrace, traps must be confiscated immediately from these morons, Pavee Point you are very quiet today?

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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Jun 10th 2014, 12:02 AM

    Muppets

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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Jun 10th 2014, 12:04 AM

    Yes. Ban them, period, too dangerous for ordinary law abiding roadusers, for too long these people hsve been a law unto themselves

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    Mute Tensing Norgay
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    Jun 10th 2014, 12:42 AM

    If I don’t have a place big enough to race a horse, I don’t get a horse

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    Mute Tensing Norgay
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    Jun 10th 2014, 12:46 AM

    @ john .yes there were horse on roads before cars! And balloons before planes ,your point ?

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    Mute Shell Tomlin
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    Jun 10th 2014, 8:38 AM

    Aw Karen you are a special kind of stupid aren’t you!

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    Mute Kizzi Yeates
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    Jul 6th 2014, 2:39 PM

    They are out driving their sulky’s

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    Mute Wayne O'Fathaigh
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    Jun 9th 2014, 4:56 PM

    Pavee point hello you there, no comment oh there is a surprise

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    Mute Paul Bracken
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    Jun 9th 2014, 4:56 PM

    There is not much more of a sickening sight than seeing an animal dead at the side of the road like this.

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    Mute Laura Healy
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    Jun 9th 2014, 5:02 PM

    Why is this not illegal already? These poor animals are being grossly mistreated by the majority of a minority…needs to be a serious crackdown on the ownership of horses, not to mention parading them around attached to carts.

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    Mute Were Jammin
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    Jun 9th 2014, 5:00 PM

    Its incredible that it has not been banned already, but this is Ireland. It will take an innocent bystander being killed, followed by a weeping spouse/mother of said bystander appearing on the late late show, before anything happens.

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    Mute Katie Does
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    Jun 9th 2014, 5:04 PM

    And yet, this afternoon shortly after 3pm a sulky with one adult and two young kids was going at speed through the Johnswell Road roundabout – at Eurospar for anyone who’s local – pulled by a pony extremely like this one in appearance. This is a very busy junction of busy roads and was just at the time kids are being dropped off school buses.

    It just isn’t safe, for the horses or for other road users/pedestrians.

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    Mute Katie Does
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    Jun 9th 2014, 5:10 PM

    That’s in Kilkenny btw. Not close to where the accident was but not that far away either.

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    Mute Brid Moloney
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    Jun 9th 2014, 7:05 PM

    Afew weeks ago we met a bunch of travellers sulky racing-they were around the railway tracks outside Gowran. They held up traffic which was very dangerous and a couple of the horses were clearly in pain. We called the guards as this was a danger to everybody. We actually only got to pass them around The Pike, as this was when the guards arrived and the travellers pulled in for the traffic when they saw the squad car. I’m in no way surprised at what happened in Kilkenny yesterday, an awful thing to happen to poor defenceless animals.

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    Mute Ian Treacy
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    Jun 9th 2014, 6:47 PM

    The poor horse looks way too young to be worked hard like that.. The most sickening thing about sulky racing is when they start them as yearlings and 2yo. Little bodies not strong enough for this barbaric dangerous carry on. Ring road in kk and clonnel = horses tied to trees with no grass , water or shelter. Culture my bol-lox

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    Mute Doc
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    Jun 9th 2014, 9:23 PM

    It should be made illegal, the stress and strain that the poor horse is put under is very evident with their necks super extended, a cruel sport, some culture, some tribe.

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    Mute Sean Murphy
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    Jun 9th 2014, 6:35 PM

    @ Karen
    I tried to think of an educated elegant response to your points for a while and the best I can come up with is….
    KAREN your a sap.

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    Mute Karen
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    Jun 9th 2014, 7:19 PM

    Another Knacker and sad attempt to do what he did in school, call people names because they dont agree with you.
    Go back to bullying kids in school like you used to Sean.

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    Mute Dee4
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    Jun 9th 2014, 4:56 PM

    thank god you dont see much of that on the Rock road. if you did I bet police and politicians would do something about it.

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    Mute Diarmuid O'Connor
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    Jun 9th 2014, 5:04 PM

    I’m afraid to say what I mean, as it will be taken as offensive by the journal and removed.

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    Mute Padraig Ó Faoláin
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    Jun 9th 2014, 7:51 PM

    I would like to congratulate Karen on properly the most thumbs down on the journal 3833…
    You my girl got hammered..good bye you are the weakest link…

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    Mute Karen
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    Jun 9th 2014, 9:50 PM

    Padraig do you feel somehow superior now? Or are you just such a sad person you take pleasure in trying to be demeaning to people. Do you think somehow being red thumbed makes an iota of difference to me? Get a life.

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    Mute hw007
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    Jun 9th 2014, 5:56 PM

    This is absolutely disgraceful what that horse suffered .
    Where is coveneys words now ” that nobody will be allowed to have a horse unless they prove they have land ” and every horse to be microchipped with passport.”

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    Mute Robert English
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    Jun 9th 2014, 6:21 PM

    It is clear that Ireland has yet to grasp the concept of the humane treatment of animals, let alone animal rights.
    I walk daily past horses that are so ill kept it would be an offence in my native country. When the animal wardern shows up at the owners to question them, they were dragged from their vehicle and beaten.

    “Horrific. absolutely shouldn’t happen.”

    Tell me about it.

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    Mute PaulM1878
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    Jun 9th 2014, 5:18 PM

    Where’s Mr Collins now??

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    Mute mitch connors
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    Jun 9th 2014, 8:13 PM

    Why are they allowed to do these sulky races ?? Travellers get away with everything in this country , the law are afraid of them , they are not fit to look after a horse.

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    Mute Karen
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    Jun 9th 2014, 9:58 PM

    Well horses are allowed on roads apparently. No law against it barr main roads.

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    Mute ciaran clarke
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    Jun 9th 2014, 10:10 PM

    Cruel and disgraceful.
    These people just do not care about anything.
    How is this their “culture”.
    When enforcing their “culture” on the rest of us they should consider that stealing and antisocial behaviour is illegal,cruelty to animals is illegal.

    Why do pavee point not comment and shout from the roof tops when acts like this are committed by what the call “ethnic minorities”.

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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Jun 10th 2014, 12:08 AM

    Karen you are a fool, racing, often on the wrong side of the road is what we are talking about here, you sad sad person

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    Mute Karen
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    Jun 10th 2014, 12:26 AM

    Oh really, so where in the comment i replied to say anything about racing on wrong side of road.
    You are nothing more than a bully and a tosser.
    And you where no where in the conversation so get lost.

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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Jun 10th 2014, 8:26 AM

    Calm down Karen

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    Mute Tony
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    Jun 9th 2014, 7:23 PM

    It’s their cultuuure boss.

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    Mute Nicole Hurley
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    Jun 9th 2014, 9:54 PM

    As

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    Mute Martin O' Neill
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    Jun 9th 2014, 7:01 PM

    They should be (In my opinion, along with their owners!) be banned, permanently!!!!!

    59
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    Mute seamus mcdermott
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    Jun 9th 2014, 6:20 PM

    It is clear that Ireland has yet to grasp the concept of the humane treatment of animals, let alone animal rights.
    I walk daily past horses that are so ill kept it would be an offence in my native country. When the animal wardern shows up at the owners to question them, they were dragged from their vehicle and beaten.

    “Horrific. absolutely shouldn’t happen.”

    Tell me about it.

    57
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    Mute royston T justice
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    Jun 9th 2014, 6:52 PM

    Ban these focking things!

    53
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    Mute Micheal S. O' Ceilleachair
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    Jun 9th 2014, 5:41 PM

    I was in Limerick last year and I am sure I saw a road sign to let the sulky drivers know that they were prohibited from travelling on the Motorway. Is it legal for them to be on all other roads? These ponies are treated very badly by certain groups who like to project it as an element of culture. Their drivers are obviously very skilful. Maybe they could race on a proper track fitted to Health and Safety standards!!!!

    48
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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Jun 10th 2014, 12:13 AM

    Rubbish!

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    Mute Rain bow
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    Jun 9th 2014, 7:08 PM

    Thank God now this horse now will have a better life. Sad but true.

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    Mute Tricia
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    Jun 9th 2014, 10:00 PM

    I have owned horses all my life; one of my favourite horses was an American Quarter Horse that I trained under harness to pull a curricle. I only drove him on quiet rural dirt roads, and the fastest gait we used was a trot. I found that paved roads were too noisy (even for a calm old head like his), dangerous (people do not know how to drive around horses), and slippery under his shod feet.

    This sulky driving was a risky undertaking and this pretty young horse has paid the price for his driver’s stupidity.

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    Mute Elaine Heney
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    Jun 9th 2014, 8:28 PM

    There is a ban sulky racing petition online here. I just signed it. http://www.thepetitionsite.com/916/748/789/ban-sulky-racing/?taf_id=10079493&cid=fb_na

    38
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    Mute Tinker Taylor
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    Jun 9th 2014, 9:37 PM

    Beestards. They don’t give a flying fiddlers about anything……..and of course its only a minority that are involved…blah blah blah etc…etc…etc…

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    Mute Derry Chambers
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    Jun 9th 2014, 6:10 PM

    I’m open to correction, but driving a horse on a public road is not illegal as far as I know. Driving a horse in a reckless or dangerous manner would be, as with all other modes of transport. The ISPCA’s call for a ban seems, partly at least, to be based on a concern for the welfare of the animals. On that basis they should, perhaps, next turn their attention to National Hunt racing, a sport, which results in many fatalities to the participating gee gees.

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    Mute Sarah O'Sullivan
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    Jun 9th 2014, 9:45 PM

    For the record, between flat, national hunt and all-weather racing the fatality rate in Britain over the last 5 years is running at 0.191%. Hardly a startling figure! Thoroughbred racehorses are far more likely to be injured or killed galloping around their own paddocks at home than on a racecourse.

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    Mute Fran Brennan
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    Jun 9th 2014, 10:56 PM

    Karen why should sulky drivers be given designated land to race , they left an injured animal on the side of the road and it died. If given private land they would probably fill it with carcasses!! I doubt the vet fees or the damage to the car will covered by the sulky driver either.

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    Mute Karen
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    Jun 9th 2014, 11:44 PM

    Do you not read correctly? They would get inspectors and advise and help and if animals not seen to be taken care of removed and fined or imprisoned depending on situation.
    Well i would say they should be forced to pay.

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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Jun 10th 2014, 12:14 AM

    Karen are you going to pay for these inspectors?

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    Mute Karen
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    Jun 10th 2014, 12:39 AM

    They are out there already Gus loads of volunteers who do that every day.
    If i had a degree in animal health i would volunteer.
    Which would you rather now. The horses removed from all their owners and put down. Cause they wont be homed anywhere else in majority.
    Come on whats your solutions?

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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Jun 10th 2014, 8:28 AM

    License all the rigs, if they are caught driving dangerously then seize them, simples.

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    Mute Cormac Ryan
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    Jun 10th 2014, 11:28 AM

    While admirable the world can’t be run by volunteers.

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    Mute Tim Nelligan
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    Jun 9th 2014, 5:44 PM

    Horses must be yielded to by motorists, according to the Rules of the Road.

    See p205 here, if you’re not already a driver:

    http://www.rsa.ie/Documents/Learner%20Drivers/Rules_of_the_road.pdf

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    Mute Cormac Ryan
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    Jun 10th 2014, 11:10 AM

    not the horses but the people in charge of them. Re-read the rulebook

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    Mute Daithi O'Laoghaire
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    Jun 9th 2014, 5:56 PM

    Pavee Point will be on Last Word with Matt Cooper on Today FM tonight to discuss this incident.

    Before we all jump to conclusions regarding the provenance of those involved etc. please listen in.

    They have condemned the incident in a tweet to me as I’ve said elsewhere on here and in the interests of balance it’s important.

    I am not condoning what happened & nor am I supporting sulky-racing in general and on public roads esp. etc. lest it come across as such.

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    Mute Daithi O'Laoghaire
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    Jun 9th 2014, 5:31 PM

    Folks, for what it’s worth regarding Pavee Point I tweeted them overnight (@DaithiOLaoire) and it’s available by screenshot for those of you who require proof of same.

    They tweeted me back that it, the incident was, and I quote verbatim, “Horrific, absolutely shouldn’t happen”. Ends.

    So before you criticise Pavee Point or the ITM/Irish Traveller Movement contact them first please. Thanks.

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    Mute Wayne O'Fathaigh
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    Jun 9th 2014, 5:44 PM

    Their News section has zero mention of the incident. Forcing them into a response as opposed to a proactive response from them shows just how little interest they actually have

    http://www.paveepoint.ie/category/news/

    http://www.paveepoint.ie/category/press-releases/

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    Mute The Hungry Boards
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    Jun 9th 2014, 5:01 PM

    People on here are funny. When a story on whatever topic comes up the first thing the readers on here do is start generalising and stereotyping.
    You’s can’t move your fingers quick enough to type your populist green thumb winning sh!te.

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    Mute Hallie Burton
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    Jun 9th 2014, 5:05 PM

    Dats naice

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    Mute Sargon
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    Jun 9th 2014, 5:05 PM

    Some stereotypes are true.

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    Mute Diarmuid O'Connor
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    Jun 9th 2014, 5:06 PM

    Generalising and stereotyping ? Is it possible to not stereotype the people who use sulkies? Are there many sections of society who use this mode of transport ?

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    Mute Ted Carroll
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    Jun 9th 2014, 5:17 PM

    It was travellers, stop beating around the bush talking about stereotypes etc, everyone knows who was involved. The sooner people can be held responsible for their actions the sooner we can fix these issues. Pavee point should be out condemning this in the strongest possible terms but of course they won’t make a peep unless some travellers feel aggrieved that they’re no longer use their sulkies on the roads and how it’s ruining their “culture”.

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    Mute Pedro deluvio
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    Jun 9th 2014, 6:10 PM

    Sargon
    Some people are stereotypical!

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    Mute Pedro deluvio
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    Jun 9th 2014, 6:12 PM

    Take their animals.

    Animals shouldn’t own animals!

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    Mute Tinker Taylor
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    Jun 9th 2014, 9:42 PM

    And as usual….the ethnic minority scurry back into their hole and leave the “oppressing” majority to clean up the mess. Thanks lads you’re a credit to your traditions.

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    Mute Tom Collins
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    Jun 9th 2014, 11:55 PM

    Ha ha bloody hilarious stuff there, who’s generalising the people on here or you???

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    Mute Suzanne
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    Jun 9th 2014, 9:08 PM

    This story has really upset me.

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    Mute Karen
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    Jun 9th 2014, 4:57 PM

    Aww god the poor thing :(
    I am sure the owners were distressed and upset. Hope they are ok shocking thing to happen. Hope the driver of the car is ok.
    They need to make race courses or rent out existing race tracks at reasonable prices so they can train and race their horses. Why don’t they make it a legit sport and sell tickets for people to watch?
    Keeps them off the road and saves the culture.

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    Mute Wayne O'Fathaigh
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    Jun 9th 2014, 4:59 PM

    Go have a look at the animals at the halting site in Kylmore to see how tier culture treats them! Remember the donkey in the canal?

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    Mute Dee4
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    Jun 9th 2014, 5:02 PM

    which “They” are you talking about?? i’d be more interested that “they” obey the laws that us normal people have to adhere to.

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    Mute Karen
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    Jun 9th 2014, 5:03 PM

    Wayne not like for like and thats a minority you cant say that for the majority. I have seen horses treated badly and killed by rich people aswell as Travellers and settled who have no money.
    If you see those animals treated badly report them!

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    Mute Tommy C
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    Jun 9th 2014, 5:07 PM

    Karen, if they cant afford them they shouldn’t keep them.

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    Mute gerryb
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    Jun 9th 2014, 5:09 PM

    Ah the poor auld travellers…ah well they may go just rob another one somewhere

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    Mute Wayne O'Fathaigh
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    Jun 9th 2014, 5:11 PM

    Karen racing horses on a busy PUBLIC road with traffic, is animal cruelty at worst and reckless at best! It is also illegal. But other than that they did nothing wrong here right??

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    Mute Ross Stewart
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    Jun 9th 2014, 5:58 PM

    @karen,
    The owners were so “distressed and upset” that they fled the scene and left their horse to suffer in agony until a vet arrived to euthanise the poor creature. Full story on Kilkenny People. Interesting how you would sympathise with them without knowing the full story though. Why is that?

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    Mute Karen
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    Jun 9th 2014, 6:21 PM

    Didnt see that on here. In that case take all their horses off them and ban them from owning any animals again. If young kids though fine the parents and force them to go to a educational course for Horses and make them work with sick animals and horses injured from accidents such as these.
    If they still have Horses do spot checks on them and if caught with animals on roads again ban them for life.

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    Mute Sean ORegan
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    Jun 9th 2014, 7:13 PM

    I have to admire your persistence Karen, but unfortunately not your logic or opinion. A horse broke away from the chariot… why? Was the tack properly secured? Was the driver old enough to be in charge of a vehicle on a public highway? You have to do a driving test to put a car or a motorised scooter on the road. Why not when you tie a beast to the front of a pram? Nobody who really loves horses would endanger an animal the way this horse was endangered. You know it. But stick to your guns because you have to.

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    Mute Karen
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    Jun 9th 2014, 7:24 PM

    Sean I stick to my guns because i know i am right. I am not some mad pitch fork and torches like the sheep on here.
    I will say it again i have seen travellers and they treat their sulkies very well. Obviously not all will same as not all so decent non travellers will treat their animals decent.

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    Mute Wayne O'Fathaigh
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    Jun 9th 2014, 8:12 PM

    Racing a horse on the wrong side of a public road is not defendable

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    Mute Karen
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    Jun 9th 2014, 9:17 PM

    Again Wayne,where in any of my comments did i say it was ok to race them on roads?
    I said find a solution and offered some solutions with a logic non pitch fork and torches mentality that is on increase in Ireland. Yet they will all sit on their fat holes moan on internet and watch the country go down the swannie last 12 years and moan about even the protesters who stand up for their rights never mind being demeaning and rude about a whole community of people that probably not one of them ever took time to even speak with or interact with.

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    Mute Mary Murphy
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    Jun 9th 2014, 10:45 PM

    Karen the travellers have plenty of money for big fat weddings, if they want to race sulkies properly then let them get their wallets out!!! Why should I pay for their enjoyment?? I don’t ask them to pay my TV license!!!!

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    Mute Wayne O'Fathaigh
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    Jun 9th 2014, 10:50 PM

    You said it was an accident as the horse broke away, it was negligence and criminal neglect. It could have been manslaughter if the horse went through the car window

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    Mute Karen
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    Jun 9th 2014, 11:13 PM

    I said for them to pay themselves didnt i ,with renting it out to them and enforcing it that they have to if they want to race or train them take them to race courses or special fields. Then also inspectors can go and check on horses there and Travellers would have help and also have to adhere to the laws of animal rights.
    Did i say you should have to pay for anything? I said make them available.Must be places that can be used and takes them off the roads. I also said if they didnt adhere to taking care of their animals and keep them off road then ban for life owning them.
    What part of reading and comprehension are people not able to to grasp?

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    Mute Karen
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    Jun 9th 2014, 11:16 PM

    It was an accident. Highly doubt they set out to kill their horse or anyone else nor did they plan on it breaking off. Stop grasping trying to make like i said a single thing wrong. Barr fact not advertised here they ran off. To which i responded in disgust.

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    Mute Tom Collins
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    Jun 9th 2014, 11:34 PM

    Karen, I haven’t seen so many thumbs down since Hitler went into Poland.

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    Mute Karen
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    Jun 9th 2014, 11:46 PM

    Ah thinking with logic and without mob mentality has become bad thing these days.

    Did you see the report about some man in 30′s dead in maher hospital for a week without being discovered? What the hell? I feel ill :(

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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Jun 10th 2014, 12:24 AM

    Ibtake it you are a Traveller Karen?

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    Mute Karen
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    Jun 10th 2014, 12:34 AM

    Nope i am not. I have however had the pleasure to meet a lot of them, and out of the few hundred i did meet only ever had issue with three or four.

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    Mute Sean ORegan
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    Jun 10th 2014, 12:56 AM

    There are not too many people agreeing with you girleen… I wonder why…oh because they are all wrong and you are right… Maybe you should think that through again.

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    Mute Karen
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    Jun 10th 2014, 1:03 AM

    Dont really care if they dont agree with me. I will voice my opinion none the less. They arent offering logical solutions they are just ranting and raving.

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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Jun 10th 2014, 8:33 AM

    Good idea renting off road courses

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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Jun 10th 2014, 8:36 AM

    Glad to hear it

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    Mute Mary Lillis
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    Jun 9th 2014, 9:18 PM

    I totally agree. People stuck behind very slow moving vehicle do stupid things. Last Monday I came around a corner to a car on the wrong side of the road over taking a sulcy and a car (on a solid white line). If we were meters closer or if there was a car behind me I would have been in a bad way and the horse and drivers would be dead.

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    Mute Karen
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    Jun 9th 2014, 9:57 PM

    That would be the driver on the other side of the roads fault not meant to take over anyone on a corner or where not enough space to get past.Not to mention crossing the white line.
    Luckily you are smart driver and werent bombing around corner.

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    Mute Mary Lillis
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    Jun 9th 2014, 10:00 PM

    You’re right it was the other drivers fault but I do think that it’d be safer if they weren’t on the road. I’m very lucky.

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    Mute Karen
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    Jun 9th 2014, 10:20 PM

    Drivers do that every single day over take L drivers,drivers who arent speeding for their liking.
    Obviously they shouldn’t be on the roads, hence why i said find a solution.
    They constantly get in my way on a road near me. But i am not giving out or trying to overtake them. Luckily the lads near me when they do it, give you a sign to over take when road is clear ahead.

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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Jun 10th 2014, 8:30 AM

    Racing on open public roads is just stupid.If they have to race then close off some smaller roads like they do for motorcycle road racing. ,much safer

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    Mute Tomas Lyne
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    Jun 10th 2014, 12:19 AM

    Anyone who owns a horse should have a license. I got one for my Jack Russell so why are the laws different. Also horse owners should need to get a form stamped annually by an legitimate vet in order to get that license.
    http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/environment/animal_welfare_and_control/control_of_horses.html

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    Mute Peter Richardson
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    Jun 9th 2014, 11:01 PM

    Banning sulkies from public roads will make no difference.

    An Garda Siochana prefer not to enforce the road traffic laws against the traveller community, which considers itself racially, culturally and ethnically distinct from the rest of Irish people.

    The cultural assertion by means of sulkies will be prioritised over enforcement of rad traffic laws.

    As long as the traveling community can assert their cultural identity, ethnicity and racial distinctiveness what matters horse welfare or road safety for others.

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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Jun 10th 2014, 12:18 AM

    They are the same race as all other Irish people, just looking for what they can get out of the system

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    Mute johngahan
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    Jun 9th 2014, 5:09 PM

    The Government should supply properly facilitated Sulky Racing Tracks around the country with changing rooms and stables. This sport will die out if we don’t make efforts to preserve our culture.

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    Mute Wayne O'Fathaigh
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    Jun 9th 2014, 5:27 PM

    Here is a crazy idea, how about you start a club, purchase some land and set up a sulky racing facility and not expect the GOV to hand everything to you

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    Mute johngahan
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    Jun 9th 2014, 5:35 PM

    I can’t understand Republicans who want to cherrypick what parts of their heritage they want to preserve and let others slip away.

    Sulky racing is a lot more Irish than soccer, cricket, rugby and golf.

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    Mute Wayne O'Fathaigh
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    Jun 9th 2014, 5:41 PM

    Try answering the question & I certainly would in no way class myself as a republican?

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    Mute jackass ireland
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    Jun 9th 2014, 5:43 PM

    With as much undisclosed cash as travellers have, they can buy their own track and use it. They can get their “culture” out of the bloody taxi lane.

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    Mute johngahan
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    Jun 9th 2014, 5:44 PM

    If only I had the money to do it. It should be a public amenity. Tourist value would be huge.

    Conventional horseracing is just a racket for the wellheeled. Why not traditional sulky racing instead?

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    Mute Tinker Taylor
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    Jun 9th 2014, 9:47 PM

    Johngahan, the travellers wouldn’t participate because it sound to much like actual work and they’d have to pay taxes…..two things that are anathema to your stereotypical traveler.

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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Jun 10th 2014, 12:19 AM

    Hshaha

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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Jun 10th 2014, 12:20 AM

    Johngahan you are talking such an awful amount of shite

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    Mute Padraig Ó Faoláin
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    Jun 9th 2014, 11:45 PM

    Karen 4000 plus….seems to make a difference to ya life as u keep commenting…n my life is pretty more exciting than yours…as iv not been losing a battle on journal.ie all day long..
    Iv had better things for doing ..like having a good shit in d toilet while you have been talking shit on ere…

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    Mute Karen
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    Jun 10th 2014, 12:31 AM

    And yet you are here making comments again. I am chilling. I did ha laugh at you there. yeah i would say taking a crap in toilet is about the only exciting thing you did, took a long time doing that aswell is that because you had to bend over toilet both ends to get it all out. Didnt work go back to toilet again, one end seems to be still spewing it out.

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    Mute Fran Brennan
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    Jun 9th 2014, 11:59 PM

    In an ideal world maybe ! but unfortunately at present animal welfare is at a crisis point to see it stretch to supervising sulky events ! It’s hard to see sulky drivers conforming to rules of a organised sulky event when some of them don’t obey rules of the road. I say this with evidence one broke a red light in front of me yesterday in Carlow if there had been a car coming from the opposite junction may possibly have been two headlines regarding sulkys!!

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    Mute Karen
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    Jun 10th 2014, 12:41 AM

    Well Fran isnt it better trying it and saving animals rather than the bitching and ranting that goes on?
    There has to be a solution,and if they dont adhere to them then do what ever.

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    Mute Kizzi Yeates
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    Jul 6th 2014, 2:51 PM

    Plenty of long beaches

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    Mute Brian Sweeney
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    Jun 9th 2014, 9:19 PM

    Hi Michelle, why were my comments removed?

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    Mute George Falzon
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    Jan 4th 2015, 9:30 PM
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