Vol. 435 No. 2
55 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Finance the terms of the licence issued to the Irish Coursing Club for the capture of hares prior to the 1993/94 coursing season; the upper limit on the number of hares that can be captured; the regulations, if any, concerning the places from which hares can be taken; and if, provision is made for these matters in the aforementioned licence.
The licence issued pursuant to Sections 9 and 24 of the 1976 Wildlife Act, as adapted, authorises the licensee and affiliated coursing clubs to capture hares by means of nets, subject, in the 1993-94 season, to the following conditions:
1. The licence shall remain in force for the period beginning on 2nd September, 1993 and ending on 28th February, 1994 and shall be withdrawable by the Minister.
2. The licence is issued pursuant to and in accordance with the Wildlife Act, 1976 (Approved Traps, Snares and Nets) Regulation, 1977.
3. A return giving particulars of the captures and locations of the captures made by each Coursing Club shall be made to the Minister, on expiry of the period of validity of the licence or on a request made in that behalf by the Minister.
4. A return giving particulars of the numbers and locations of the releases of hares made by each Coursing Club shall be made to the Minister, on expiry of the period of validity of the licence or on a request made in that behalf by the Minister.
5. The nets shall not be placed or operated in a place or in such a way as to endanger farm or domestic animals or other species for which it is not intended.
6. The licence shall be produced for inspection on a request being made in that behalf by a member of the Garda Síochána or any person appointed by the Minister under Section 72 of the Wildlife Act, 1976, to be an authorised person for the purposes of the said Act.
7. Any hare captured pursuant to the licence may not be coursed more than once on the same day.
8. Sick or injured hares shall not be taken under the licence.
