Vol. 529 No. 1
954 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if she will initiate an investigation into the recent Abbeyfeale coursing event to establish whether breaches of the Wildlife Act, 1976, occurred; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1455/01]
The Greyhound Industry Act, 1958, provides for the regulation of coursing by greyhounds and designates the Irish Coursing Club as the controlling body for the breeding and coursing of greyhounds. The enforcement of this act is the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development.
Licences are issued by Dúchas, my Department's heritage service, under sections 32 and 34 of the Wildlife Act, 1976, which enables the Irish Coursing Club and its affiliated clubs to net and earmark hares which are a protected species under the Wildlife Act, 1976. As part of their duties conservation rangers carry out spot checks on coursing club meetings to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions attached to the licences.
Two conservation rangers from Dúchas attended the coursing meeting at Abbeyfeale. I understand that the meeting was abandoned by the club after the first day due to the poor quality of the hares present. There do not appear to have been any breaches of the Wildlife Act, 1976. A detailed report on the meeting has been requested from the ranger staff present and will be examined when received.
