Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 October 2012
158. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will arrange for the immediate National Parks Wildlife Servicer supervised release of hares captured for the Galway and Oranmore coursing meeting following the announcement that the club's coursing meeting will not go ahead as scheduled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46642/12]
View answerThe control of live hare coursing, including the operation of individual coursing meetings and managing the use of hares for that activity, is carried out under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958, which is the responsibility of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Hare coursing is administered by the Irish Coursing Club, which is a body set up under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958. One condition of the license issued by my Department to the Irish Coursing Club requires that all hares must be returned back to the wild once the coursing meeting has concluded. I understand, however, that a Galway & Oranmore Coursing Club meeting originally scheduled has been postponed due to unsuitable ground conditions and accordingly the requirement for release following conclusion of a meeting does not arise at this time.
