Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 January 2004
930 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the hares netted for use by the Cavan coursing club at their meets of 21 and 22 November 2003 were also used by the Dungannon and Ballymena Coursing Clubs on 23 November 2003 in Cavan; and the action he intends to take arising from this apparent breach of their licence. [1263/04]
View answerI understand that the event in question, which had been notified to my Department as taking place on 21, 22 and 23 November, was organised and managed by the Cavan Coursing Club which is covered by the hare netting licence issued to the Irish Coursing Club for the season 2003-2004. The subsidiary association of other interests with the Cavan Coursing Club in this event would not appear to be inconsistent with the licence provisions.
My Department's priority, in the context of this and other hare coursing activities, is to ensure that the conservation requirements of the licence are appropriately observed.
