Vol. 423 No. 1
132 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the blooding of greyhounds with live hares at Mountaylor, County Tipperary, during September, 1991; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
133 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Finance if an investigation was carried out into reports that (1) a coursing club (details supplied) netted hares during August 1992 and (2) the Wildlife Ranger for that area discovered 25 dead hares in the club's hare pen; if so, if he will give details of the outcome of the investigation.
134 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Finance if the Wildlife Section of the Office of Public Works has investigated allegations that a coursing club (details supplied) captured hares during August, 1992 and prior to the granting of a licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 132, 133 and 134 together. I am aware of the incident at Mount Taylor, County Tipperary on 9 September, 1991. Prosecution proceedings were instigated against two men involved and they were subsequently found guilty of offences under the Wildlife Act, 1976 in a Court of Law and fined.
138 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Finance the total number of coursing clubs which applied for licences (a) last season and (b) this season; whether all coursing clubs that applied for licences have made up-to-date returns giving particulars of captures; whether the Minister has refused to grant any applications for a licence last season or this season; if so, their number and the reason for such refusal; and the cost of each licence.
139 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Finance the number of persons appointed under Section 72 of the Wildlife Act, 1976, to be authorised persons for the purpose of the Act.
141 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that two coursing clubs (details supplied) netted hares before a licence was granted to them this year pursuant to the Wildlife Act; whether he will (a) ascertain when and where the hares were captured (b) reveal the action, if any, he proposes to take (c) have arrangements made for the hares so caught to be released and (d) consider revoking the licences issued to these clubs.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 138, 139 and 141 together. The Irish Coursing Club, Davis Road, Clonmel, County Tipperary, applied, on behalf of its affiliated clubs in 1991 and 1992, for a licence to capture live hares by means of nets. The Irish Coursing Club has furnished up-to-date returns giving particulars of numbers captured and released and of the locations of releases made by the 75 of its affiliated clubs which netted hares during the 1990-91 and 1991-92 Open Seasons. A further 15 clubs affiliated to the Irish Coursing Club run open meetings.
No application for a licence was refused. There is no charge for a licence.
One hundred and five officers of the National Parks and Wildlife Service have been appointed since 1988 under section 72 of the Wildlife Act, 1976, and the European Communities (Wildlife Act, 1976) (Amendment) Regulations, for the purposes of the Act. Prior to 1988 a number of Forestry Service Personnel had been appointed authorised officers under section 72 of the Wildlife Act, 1976, as the Wildlife Service and Forestry were then part of the same service.
The allegations against one of the clubs referred to have, following investigation by rangers from the National Parks and Wildlife Service proved unsustainable.
Garda investigations are on going into the allegations that the other Club netted hares outside the licensing period. Pending the outcome of the Garda investigation which may result in prosecution, I do not propose to make any further comment at this stage.
