Hare Coursing Regulation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 April 2014

Wednesday, 16 April 2014

Questions (145)

Maureen O'Sullivan

Question:

145. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to the six greyhounds that participated in this year's national hare coursing festival testing positive for banned substances, if he will have the Irish Coursing Club extend drug testing of greyhounds to all hare coursing events; his views on having his Department initiate its own drug testing at these events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18183/14]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The Irish Coursing Club (ICC) is subject to the general control and direction of Bord na gCon, which is the statutory body with responsibility for the improvement and development of the greyhound industry, greyhound racing and coursing.

The ICC introduced new arrangements for the testing of coursing greyhounds for prohibited substances for the 2012/3 coursing season. There were no positive results in the 2012/3 season. 6 positive results were reported in the 2013/4 season which are now being processed by the ICC in accordance with the rules governing such matters. I have been informed that the Executive Committee of the ICC plan to undertake a review of its arrangements for testing for prohibited substances in coursing greyhounds in the near future and the Committee will decide on any changes that need to be made to the testing regime after considering the findings of the review.