THE 800 wandering horses in Wexford highlighted a problem that was to be found in many parts of the State, Mr Eamonn Walsh (Labour, Dublin South West) said. "It is revealing to see how difficult a situation has come about in a short space of time" he added.

Mr Walsh was speaking during the resumed debate on the Control of Horses Bill, which was introduced by the Minister of State for Agriculture, Mr Jimmy Deenihan. The Bill, which gives local authorities the power to designate control areas where, horses cannot be kept without licences, passed all stages and now goes to the Seanad.

Mr Deenihan said that, in certain circumstances, he could, direct a local authority to declare itself a control area. If the problem eventually became a national one, the entire State could become a control area. But the Bill was built around the concept, of control areas where there was a problem.