Written Answers. - Cruelty to Animals.
Ivor Callely
Question:
41
Mr. Callely
asked the
Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry
if his attention has been drawn to cruelty to animals in animal field sport activities, in particular hare coursing; his views on the fact that the Protection of Animals Act, 1911 does not adequately address such activities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[8345/97]
Ivor Callely
Question:
202
Mr. Callely
asked the
Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry
his views on the training of greyhounds in Ireland by blooding; if his attention has been drawn to the cruelty to animals in this regard, such as cruelty to hares and rabbits by certain forms of coursing; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6608/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 41 and 202 together.
The Protection of Animals Acts, 1911 and 1965 are the principal statutes governing cruelty to animals, and are enforced by the Garda. Any act of cruelty which might be perpetrated against an animal during field sport activities, including coursing, would fall in the normal course to be dealt with under these Acts. I am satisfied that the scope of such Acts is sufficiently broad to encompass most if not all acts of cruelty against animals. Deputies will be aware that, in order to reflect public feeling on this issue, I have recently availed of the opportunity provided by the passage of the Control of Horses Act, 1996 to increase significantly the penalties for cruelty to animals under the Protection of Animals Act, 1911. The new penalties are; a fine of up to £1,500 and/or six months imprisonment on summary conviction and a fine of up to £10,000 and/or two year's imprisonment on conviction on indictment.
I believe that these tougher measures will be supported by the vast majority of people and will act as a greater deterrent against acts of cruelty to all animals.
Apart from this, and in the context of the Deputy's concern about coursing, Bord na gCon investigates all complaints it receives regarding the alleged involvement of any persons connected with the greyhound industry and the blooding of greyhounds. The board has wide-ranging legislative powers to undertake investigations and, following such investigations, to exclude any person from participating in the racing or public sale of greyhounds by means of a special exclusion order.
It is noteworthy that, as I indicated in the House on 4 March, 1997 — in response to Question No. 235 — since the muzzling of greyhounds was introduced in 1994 there has been a very substantial reduction in the recorded number of hares killed at coursing meetings, from 267 in 1993-94 to 33 in 1996-97.
Deputies will of course recognise the reality that the statutory protection afforded to animals is critically dependent on the willingness of the public generally and of those who witness acts of cruelty in particular to make complaints to the Garda. I want to make it clear that I condemn absolutely all acts of cruelty to animals. I urge anyone who is aware of cases of cruelty to alert the Garda so that they can pursue the perpetrators.
