Deer Hunting

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 April 2015

Thursday, 30 April 2015

Questions (14)

Maureen O'Sullivan

Question:

14. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 727 of 31 March 2015, if she will provide details of the official responsible for supervising the release and recapture of the stag, whose sole purpose is to set the scent for the hounds to follow; if she has any proof or reports from Department officials that this is being adhered to or if she is simply relying on the word of the hunting group which has been seen, as pointed out in my previous parliamentary question, to be flaunting legislation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16769/15]

Written answers

Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

The Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2010 makes it an offence to hunt deer with two or more dogs. It is understood that, since the enactment of the legislation, the hunt in question has operated a “drag hunt” in order to comply with the legislation. This form of hunting involves the release of a deer to set a scent over a course. Following the recapture of the deer, the hounds and horses follow the scent. As this practice is not considered to be hunting, as defined in the Wildlife Acts, officials of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department have not monitored the release and recapture of the deer in these situations but did, however, attend a meeting of the drag hunt earlier this year.

My officials have also met with representatives of the hunt in question on a number of occasions on foot of complaints that there have been breaches of the 2010 legislation. Both the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department and An Garda Síochána are currently investigating those alleged breaches and, if there is sufficient evidence to support the allegations, prosecutions will be brought under the Wildlife Acts.