EU Commissioner Phil Hogan was informed of the need for extra funding for the Irish Equine Centre on a recent visit to the IEC’s laboratories in Johnstown, Co Kildare.

The Commissioner met with IEC chief executive Sarah McNicholas and the IEC’s senior scientists Professors Tom Buckley and Ann Cullinane and Dr Ursula Fogarty.

Commissioner Hogan also had the opportunity to meet some of the staff and visit some of the laboratories, including the virology unit which is a designated OIE reference laboratory for equine influenza and equine herpes virus. Currently, the IEC remains the only OIE Reference Laboratory in Ireland.

Part of the discussion with Commissioner Hogan centred around the need for additional funding for the IEC in order for it to remain at the forefront of equine disease management and research.

In particular, the need for an upgraded laboratory building was raised in order to facilitate the future development of the IEC’s services.

Also in attendance were IEC Chairman John Malone, Horse Racing Ireland’s chairman Joe Keeling and leading trainer Dermot Weld.

Sarah McNicholas, chief executive of the IEC, said: “It was a genuine pleasure to welcome Commissioner Hogan to the IEC. We are extremely proud of the vital work we undertake on behalf of the Irish equine industry.

“Commissioner Hogan’s visit allowed us to showcase the quality of diagnostic and research work we generate and highlight the need to ensure that the IEC receives the necessary financial support in order to remain a centre of scientific excellence for the equine industry.”