Vol. 418 No. 7
59 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that 37 hares were killed at a recent coursing meeting in Clonmel, County Tipperary; and if he will consider taking action to ban live hare coursing.
My attention has been drawn to the number of hares killed at the four day Festival of Coursing held in Clonmel in February 1992.
I have obtained a copy of the report prepared by the control steward responsible for the conduct of the meeting in question. A post-mortem examination carried out on the hares at the conclusion of the meeting indicated high levels of worm infestation and coccidiosis. The general purposes sub-committee of the Irish Coursing Club concluded that these findings coupled with the unreasonable weather conditions were the major factors in the high level of casualties. The Club's veterinary officer is investigating the efficacy of different medications with a view to ensuring that similar problems do not arise again.
My Department is in constant touch with Bord na gCon in order to ensure that the Bord and the Irish Coursing Club maintain proper supervision of coursing meetings and that the conduct of such meetings complies fully with the law.
The question of hare coursing is being kept under constant review.
