Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 September 2014
1758. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will grant licences for hare coursing for the 2014/2015 season; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33567/14]
View answer1759. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will be granting any hare coursing licences in the coming season. [33578/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1758 and 1759 together.
Licences under the Wildlife Acts were issued by my Department on 15 August last to the Irish Coursing Club on behalf of its affiliated clubs to facilitate the tagging and capturing of hares for the purpose of hare coursing for the 2014/15 coursing season.
The 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.
Where resources allow, officials of my Department's National Parks and Wildlife Service attend coursing meetings, on a spot-check basis, to monitor compliance with conditions of the licences granted by my Department. These conditions have been developed and refined over a number of years and cover a range of items, including the provision of data on hare captures and releases, having a veterinary surgeon in attendance at a coursing meeting, complying with Irish Coursing Club directives, co-operating with my Department's staff and allowing only coursing club members to be involved in catching hares. My Department also receives reports from the Irish Coursing Club control stewards and veterinary surgeons in attendance on the day of hare coursing meetings.
