Vol. 439 No. 7
31 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Finance the steps, if any, being taken by the Wildlife Service to investigate incidents of badger baiting and the blooding of greyhounds dealt with in recent television programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Like many people who became aware of the media reports of the events referred to by the Deputy, I was very saddened to see how low man's treatment of defenceless animals could go.
In so far as my responsibilities under the 1976 Wildlife Act are concerned, the badger is a protected species while the rabbit is not. The Garda are responsible for investigating alleged acts of cruelty to animals which are prescribed as criminal offences under the Protection of Animals Acts, 1911 and 1965. These include the baiting of animals and cover the use of live animals for "blooding" greyhounds. As the Garda are investigating the events in question it would not be proper for me, at this time, to make any statement on this matter other than to say that the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Office of Public Works is co-opera-ting fully with the Garda in the investigation of the badger baiting incident and to appeal to people with information about these or similar incidents to pass the information on to the appropriate authorities where it will be pursued with the utmost vigour.
