Vol. 421 No. 4
289 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will give details of (1) the number of meetings held so far this year between his senior departmental officials and the ICC and Bord na gCon representatives and (2) the purpose of each meeting; and if assurances were given at any such meeting concerning the Government's position on the future of coursing or the muzzling of greyhounds as was stated in media reports (details supplied).
301 Mr. Garland asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food whether the Irish Coursing Club was given assurances (1) on the future of live hare coursing and (2) that the muzzling of greyhounds was ruled out and whether he met with representatives from the Coursing Club and Bord na gCon to discuss the future of coursing and the implications of muzzling.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 289 and 301 together. Senior officials of my Department met representatives of Bord na gCon on two occasions this year. Representatives of the ICC were present at one of these meetings. The purpose of both meetings was to discuss possible amendments to the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 which is under review by my Department. No assurances were given at these meetings regarding the Government's position on either the future of coursing or the muzzling of greyhounds.
