Make the difference It’s time to give a voice to Ireland’s horses. Please support our campaign “A voice for Ireland’s horses” and sign the petition. All you have to do sign here. The Irish Horse Welfare Trust is calling for the implementation of the new Animal Health & Welfare Bill as a matter of extreme urgency. The Bill is currently in the final draft stages. It has taken almost 2 years to reach this stage and yet it is still waiting to be published and brought before the Houses of the Oireachtas. There is still not timeline for when the bill will be finalised. This winter is forecast to see an increase in cases of equine neglect. Already equine welfare groups and charities are struggling to meet the demands on their resources. The new Animal Health and Welfare Bill will update existing legislation to ensure that the welfare of all animals is properly protected and that the penalties for offenders are increased significantly. The Bill will also provide for the consolidation of responsibility for the welfare of all animals.