Vol. 516 No. 4
69 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if the Irish cup coursing meeting on 19-21 February 2000 at Ballybeggan Park, Tralee, and the Tipperary and District coursing meeting at Limerick Junction Racecourse in February 2000 were officially monitored; if the issues raised (details supplied) have been investigated; the action, if any, taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8368/00]
A departmental veterinary inspector attended the Irish cup coursing meeting in Tralee on 20 and 21 February 2000. My Department was not represented at the Tipperary and District meeting. In reports made by or to my Department there were no hares recorded as killed during the coursing at either meeting. A small number of injuries, deaths resulting from injury and deaths from natural causes were reported. Both meetings were reported as well managed and supervised. The Irish Coursing Club has stated that the park dimensions referred to in the material supplied are recommendations, the sites were subject to pre-inspection and considered satisfactory and there was no breach of the rules. Wildlife rangers from the National Parks and Wildlife Service were present for part of the two meetings.
