Vol. 435 No. 2
56 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Finance the plans, if any, he has to undertake a census of the hare population in Ireland; and the safeguards that are in place to ensure that hare coursing does not deplete the number of hares in this country.
There are no plans to undertake a census of the hare population in this country. The main safeguard in place to ensure that hare coursing does not deplete the number of hares in this country is the licensing system operated under the 1976 Wildlife Act. In considering applications to capture hares the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Office of Public Works must have regard to the conservation status of the species. There is no evidence, at present, that the hare population is under threat or in danger of extinction.
