Vol. 488 No. 7
126 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the action, if any, his Department has taken against the use of domesticated stags for stag hunting in this country, in view of the fact that the hunting or baiting of livestock or domestic creatures is prohibited under the Protection of Animals Act, 1911; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6956/98]
174 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will have arrangements made with the veterinary division of his Department to carry out an inspection of the Ward Union deerpark and herd to establish whether their deer are domestic or wild animals. [7376/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 126 and 174 together.
Primary responsibility for stag hunting rests with the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands under the Wildlife Act, 1976. The Heritage Council is currently reviewing the issue of licences under the relevant section of the Act at the request of that Minister. I understand that the matter of the treatment of captive bred stags has been raised in submissions made to the Heritage Council as part of this review, with the main submission having been received from the Ward Union Hunt Club. It has, of course, been open to other interested parties to make similar submissions to the council on this or related matters. I understand that it is still open to interested parties to make submissions to the council on this issue.
As regards the Protection of Animals Act, 1911, it would be a matter for the Garda Síochána to investigate and prosecute persons for any alleged offences under the Act. The penalties for cruelty offences provided for under the Act were recently increased substantially.
