Written Answers Nos. 248-271
248. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to outline his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the increase in the minimum wages in budget 2016; its impact on small businesses (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40277/15]
View answerAt all times the Government's policy choices are considered in the context of the impact on jobs. This is at the heart of the Action Plan for Jobs process and has been a central feature of successive Budgets and The Pathways to Work programme. This level of policy focus has helped create an environment where 126,000 extra people are at work, all regions are increasing employment and our economy is the fastest growing in the EU. In the context of the above enterprise and jobs performance it should be noted that one of the first decisions this Government made was to reverse the €1 cut in the national minimum wage implemented by the previous Government. In the context of the minimum wage, the report from the Low Pay Commission which supported the Commission’s recommendations regarding the appropriate rate for the National Minimum Wage (NMW) stated that research indicates that moderate increases in the NMW are unlikely to have a significantly adverse effect on employment.
The Commission recommended that anomalies in relation to PRSI which could adversely affect employer costs should be addressed, and I believe that the adjustments to PRSI which have been provided for by my colleague, Minister Noonan, in the recent Budget, will assist employers in reducing costs, thus ensuring a continuing positive climate for job creation.
Budget Documentation available at the following link www.budget.gov.ie/Budgets/2016/Documents/Budget%20Book%202016%20-%20full%20document.pdf gives the example (Example 6 page B.22) of an individual earning the minimum wage of €8.65 for a 39 hour week in 2015. The minimum wage increase will mean an additional €1,014 per annum for this person, taking their gross income to €18,556 in 2016. Their income tax liability will increase from €208 per annum to €411 per annum due to their additional earnings. They will have a PRSI liability of €160. USC liability reduces from €374 to €317. The net gain for this person is €708 per annum or 4.2%.
Due to the budget changes introduced the employer will pay PRSI at 8.5% and not move to the previously higher rate of 10.75% when paying the additional €1,014 per annum. This reduces the additional PRSI paid by an employer to €86.19 per annum. The employer PRSI rate of 10.75% will only apply at the new high threshold of €376.01.
249. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to outline his views on the changes to registration for electricians (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40527/15]
View answerThe Minister has no function in this matter. Responsibility for the regulation of the electricity and gas markets is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is an independent regulator. The CER was assigned responsibility for the regulation of the Irish electricity sector following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 and subsequent amending legislation. Section 4 of the Energy Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2006 provided CER with responsibility for the regulation of electrical contractors with regard to safety including appointing a person or persons to be a designated Electrical Safety Supervisory Body. The Minister has no responsibility in relation to regulating the registration of electrical contractors. See Press Release from the CER website with regard to the appointment of RECI to operate the Safe Electric Scheme from January 2016 - http://www.cer.ie/docs/001057/CER15267%20Press%20Release%20-%20CER%20Appoints%20RECI%20to%20Operate%20the%20Safe%20Electric%20Scheme.pdf.
250. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to outline his plans to introduce certification or a qualification for public display in each petrol station that has been vetted by Customs and Excise for fuel quality, and has met the legal requirements, in order to inform the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40539/15]
View answerI understand that the legislative responsibility for fuel quality lies with the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government under S.I 155 of 2011. My Department has no function in this matter.
Customs and Excise comes under the responsibility of the Revenue Commissioners and the Minister for Finance.
251. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will report to Dáil Éireann on the steps he will take in respect of so-called if-and-when contracts to further protect workers on zero-hour contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40712/15]
View answerI am pleased to inform the Deputy that, following Government approval, I have published the University of Limerick’s study on the prevalence of zero hours contracts among employers in Ireland, and launched a public consultation process to give all interested parties an opportunity to consider and respond to the study.
The consultation process commenced on 9th November and will run over an eight week period to 4th January 2016. My Department has published on its website a Consultation Document designed to assist interested parties in making a written submission in response to the study. In addition to seeking written submissions from all interested parties, I have arranged to meet with employer representative bodies and worker representative bodies and non-Governmental organisations to hear their views first hand.
It is important to point out that this is an independent study and the conclusions being drawn and the recommendations being made in the study are those of the University of Limerick. Therefore, it is essential that the various stakeholders who contributed to the study and indeed other interested parties who may not have had an opportunity to engage with the University of Limerick, are given an opportunity to consider and respond to the findings and recommendations in the UL report. This will allow me to be more fully informed before formulating my own views on the policy recommendations that I should bring to Government arising from the study.
252. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person (details supplied) can avail of the 90% tax exemption if the family farm is signed over to that person and is then in that person's name. [39993/15]
View answerTaxation policy is primarily the responsibility of the Minister for Finance. However I have on-going contact with Minister Noonan to ensure that taxation policy reflects the Government’s commitment to agriculture, as evidenced by our cooperation on the ‘Agri-taxation Review’ and its implementation over the last two Budgets. Assisting succession and the transfer of farms has been a central part of agri-taxation policy for many years and is one of the specific policy objectives identified by the Agri-taxation Review.
Agricultural Relief from Capital Acquisition Tax is vitally important in this regard. It is available in respect of gifts and inheritances of ‘agricultural property’, subject to certain conditions being satisfied. The relief operates by reducing the market value of the agricultural property by 90%, so that gift or inheritance tax is calculated on an amount known as the ‘agricultural value’. To qualify for agricultural relief, at the valuation date the person receiving the gift or inheritance must be a farmer, which for the purposes of the relief is defined as someone in respect of whom at least 80% of their assets, after taking a gift or inheritance, consists of agricultural property. Furthermore the beneficiary must, commencing on the valuation date, farm the agricultural property for a period of not less than 6 years or lease it out for a period of not less than 6 years. In addition, the beneficiary (or the lessee, where relevant) must:
- Have an agricultural qualification (a qualification of the kind listed in Schedule 2, 2A or 2B of the Stamp Duties Consolidation Act 1999) or achieve such a qualification within a period of 4 years commencing on the date of the gift or inheritance, or,
- Farm the agricultural property for not less than 50% of their ‘normal working time’.
It is my Department’s policy not to comment on individual cases as the administration of the taxation system is a matter for the Office of the Revenue Commissioners. Individuals can either speak directly with Revenue or seek independent professional advice on their own particular circumstances.
253. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to offer his assessment of the impact that so-called super trawlers have had on fish stocks in Irish seas; if he will implement a ban or restriction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40005/15]
View answer280. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has undertaken an impact study of the activities of large super trawlers on the various fish stock species; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40319/15]
View answer286. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the activities of a Lithuanian-registered super trawler (details supplied) is being monitored by authorities; the actions being taken to ensure that the vessel is fully compliant with all existing control regulations while it remains in Irish fishing waters; his plans to carry out a physical inspection of the vessel's catch; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40466/15]
View answer288. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware of the activities of the factory freezer ships (details supplied) fishing off the coast of County Donegal; the species they are fishing; and if these vessels have been inspected by the Naval Service or by the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40479/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 253, 280, 286 and 288 together.
The fishing opportunities available to vessels, including within the Irish Exclusive Fishery Zone (EFZ) for 2015 are set out in TAC and Quota Regulation (Council Regulation (EU) 104/2015 dated 19 January 2015) on a stock by stock basis. In addition to the TACs and quotas set down each year by the Fisheries Council, under the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), a Member State may also swap (exchange) quotas with other Member States in a particular year.
Under Regulation (EU) No. 1380/2013 (the CFP basic regulation), changes to fisheries policy involving access or restriction to fishing opportunities or fishing areas come within the sole competency of the EU. Only the EU Commission may propose changes and any such proposal must be adopted under the co-decision process by the EU Parliament and EU Council. Member States, in consultation with the Commission, Member States affected and stakeholders are permitted to introduce non-discriminatory measures for the conservation and management of fish stocks within the 12 mile zone subject to compliance with policy and procedures set down in CFP Regulation. However, access to the 12 mile zone is set down in the CFP Regulation and may not be changed by an individual Member State.
All fishing opportunities set down in the TAC and Quota Regulation each year are determined by the EU Fisheries Council based on the scientific advice provided by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). ICES, in providing advice, considers all of the available data including catch and landing data supplied by the Member States and data provided by Member States scientific bodies, in Ireland’s case - the Marine Institute. The collection and transmission of catch and landings data is mandatory. Member States are also responsible for the collection of scientific data in accordance with EU Data Collection provisions.
Control of the vessel within Ireland’s Exclusive Fisheries Zone is a matter for the Irish control authorities. The Control authorities monitor fishing activity of all vessels operating in Ireland’s Exclusive Fisheries Zone. Under the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act, 2006, operational issues concerning sea fisheries control are a matter for the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) and the Naval Service.
254. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to detail the number of farmers admitted into the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme with a start date of 1 October 2015; the average annual payment approved; the number of these farmers who may expect payment before Christmas 2015; the expected expenditure in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40054/15]
View answerTo date a total of 24,830 farmers have been approved under the GLAS scheme of which 22,898 have been given a 1 October commencement date. There are an additional circa 2,000 applications that have had validation queries raised on them, which are being examined systematically by my Department. I expect the vast bulk of these to be reviewed and re-processed very shortly.
The information sought on the number to be paid and the average payment will not be available until the pre-payment validations are completed.
The 2015 estimates include €20m for GLAS payments in the current year, which will be sufficient to make an 85% first instalment payment to all those with a 1 October commencement date who are approved for part-year payment in 2015.
255. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive a payment under the disadvantaged areas scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40056/15]
View answer256. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive a payment under the single payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40057/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 255 and 256 together.
An application under the 2015 Basic Payments (BPS)/Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) Schemes was received from the person named on 12 May 2015. The application for the ANC Scheme is integrated into the BPS application form and in order to apply for the ANC Scheme, applicants are requested to tick a box on the BPS application form.
The person named has declared land parcels containing areas of natural constraints in their BPS application but has not applied for the ANC scheme via the tick box. The Department contacted the person named in early August indicating that he had not applied for the ANC Scheme and requesting clarification on his intentions in relation to applying for the Scheme. On the 16 November, 2015 the person named contacted the Department to request admission to the ANC Scheme. This request is currently being examined, and the person named will be notified of the outcome of this process in due course.
In relation to the application under the BPS, processing of the application has recently been finalised and payment will issue shortly, directly to the nominated bank account of the person named.
257. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment under the basic payment scheme and the areas of natural constraint scheme will issue to persons (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40058/15]
View answerAn application under Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraint Schemes was received from the person named on 27 May 2015. Processing of the application under both schemes has recently been finalised and payment will issue directly to the nominated bank account of the person named shortly.
258. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive a payment under the agri-environment options scheme 2; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40063/15]
View answerMy Department is currently examining approximately 400 cases that submitted invoices from one particular company to verify and support claims under the non-productive capital investment action of AEOS. It is known that in some cases the invoices submitted were for amounts different to those actually paid by the participants.
Funding provided under the scheme comes partly from the EU and partly from the National Exchequer. There is a requirement and obligation to ensure that the expenditure claimed by scheme participants reflects the reality of what took place. For that reason my Department wrote to participants requesting alternative proof that the amounts claimed were in fact the amounts paid.
The person named above was written to on 10 June 2015 regarding the non-productive capital investment claim that they had submitted. This letter requested the submission of alternative verifiable proof to support one of the invoices that was included in the claim for expenditure incurred. A reply to this letter was received on 26 June last.
My Department officials carefully examined the application in light of this reply; this examination indicated that the amount claimed had not been satisfactorily verified and that the amounts claimed were greater than the costs in verified cases. A letter informing the applicant of this determination, and of the proposed penalty to be imposed, was issued on 5 November. This letter also offered the applicant an opportunity to have the determination reviewed within the Department and to submit additional information if they wished not later than 20th November. As soon as may be after a request for a review is received, or after 20th November, if a request for review is not received, a final decision will be made in this case and a further letter will then issue to the person named informing him of the decision.
259. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment under the basic payment scheme and the areas of natural constraint scheme will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40064/15]
View answerAn application under the 2015 Basic payment/Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme was received from the person named on 27 May 2015. Processing of the application under both schemes has recently been finalised and payment will issue shortly, directly to the nominated bank account of the person named.
260. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a payment under the areas of natural constraint scheme will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40065/15]
View answerAn application under the 2015 Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme was received from the person named on 29 May 2015. Processing of the application has recently been finalised and payment will issue shortly, directly to the nominated bank account of the person named.
261. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an application under the beef data genomics programme by a person (details supplied) in County Cork will be considered with 2013 as a reference year, given the considerable force majeure issues in 2014 and 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40078/15]
View answerThe person named applied to participate in the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) 2015-2020. The Terms and Conditions of the Scheme state that the number of cows that calved in a participants herd in 2014 shall be the reference number of animals for the BDGP but that in certain limited circumstances the number of cows that calved in 2015 may be permitted as the number of reference animals. The person named requested to use 2013 as the reference year but there is no provision under which a year other than 2014 or 2015 can be used.
262. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to set out the status of payments under the disadvantaged areas scheme for a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40080/15]
View answerThe person named submitted a 2015 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme application on 29 May 2015. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases Remote Sensing (i.e. satellite) inspections, be completed before any payments issue.
The application of the person named was selected for a Remote Sensing eligibility inspection. This inspection is currently being processed with the intention of issuing any payments due under the Direct Payments Schemes as soon as possible.
An official from my Department has been in direct contact with the person named to explain the situation and has advised the person named of the current position.
263. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to set out the status of single payments for 2015 for a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40082/15]
View answerThe person named submitted a 2015 Transfer of Allocation Right and Reference Value application to my Department. This application sought a change of legal entity from the person named to a Company name. As the person named had not changed his herd number from his own name into the Company name it was not possible to process the change of legal entity application. An official from my Department has been in contact with the person named to discuss his case including the requirement to cancel his transfer application in order to facilitate payment. This process has now been completed and payment under the Basic Payment Scheme will issue to the person named shortly. The person named was advised of when payment can be expected.
264. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the replacement capacity rule; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40088/15]
View answerThe Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2003 introduced a new fleet licensing policy aimed at ensuring equity, transparency and introducing an independent appeals process. The Act transferred the functions of sea-fishing boat licensing to the Licensing Authority for Sea-Fishing Boats which operates on an independent basis subject to criteria set out in section 3 of the Act and Ministerial Policy Directives. As Minister I am unable to engage on specific licensing issues, as I am precluded by law from influencing individual licensing issues. Fleet policy is set under section 3(2) of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2003 as amended by section 99 of the Sea Fisheries Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006 by means of fleet policy directives. The Act specifically states that I, as Minister, am precluded from exercising "any power or control in relation to any particular case or group of cases with which the Licensing Authority is or may be concerned".
The Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation has recently made proposals in relation to replacement capacity in ring fenced fisheries. As time permits following the conclusion of the Fisheries Council this year, I will examine this proposal and the potential impacts. This process will involve inter-alia, discussions with industry, an impact analysis, and if the proposal seems appropriate, a full public consultation. The procedures as set out, based on previous experience, are likely to take some significant period of time before a final conclusion is reached.
265. Deputy John Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will intervene in the decision not to award payment under the disadvantaged areas scheme to a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim who is short of the minimum stock level by only 0.6 units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40089/15]
View answerAn application under the 2015 Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme was received from the person named on 27 May 2015. Payment has not issued to the person named as, at this stage, the holding concerned has not satisfied the Scheme’s minimum stocking density requirements. Under the 2015 Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme, eligible applicants are required to have met a minimum stocking density of 0.15 livestock units for a retention period of seven consecutive months and to maintain an annual average of 0.15 livestock units calculated over the twelve months of the scheme year.
Department records confirm that the person named held sufficient livestock to meet the minimum requirements of the scheme for the period from 1 January 2015 through to 21 May 2015, at which time animals were sold from the holding by private sale. As the holding failed to maintain the minimum livestock numbers for the required period of seven consecutive months, the holding cannot be considered eligible for payment under the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme.
266. Deputy John Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline his views on the future of the regional veterinary laboratory based at Fawcett's Bridge, Doonally, County Sligo to ensure its vital work in monitoring and testing animal diseases and controlling exotic diseases continues. [40160/15]
View answerMy Department’s Regional Veterinary Laboratory at Fawcett’s Bridge, Doonally, County Sligo continues to operate as heretofore. It continues to provide a range of laboratory diagnostic support services to the farming community in the North West region through the private veterinary practitioners attending their herds and flocks.
My Department is committed to undertaking a Strategic Review of its Laboratories as part of an Integrated Reform Delivery Plan agreed with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The working group undertaking the Review is considering all of the Department’s laboratories, and was convened in January 2015, under an external chairman, Professor Alan Reilly, with the following Terms of Reference:
1. To define the laboratory services and expertise that the Department requires at present and in the foreseeable future;
2. To consider how these laboratory services and expertise can best be delivered; and
3. To outline an implementation plan, including timescale, for proposed changes.
A report from this group is expected in due course.
267. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will be issued with headage payments for 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40165/15]
View answerAn application under the Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraint Schemes was received from the person named on 14 April 2015. The person named has claimed on a commonage which has been over-claimed in 2015. Applicants on the commonage have produced various forms of commonage evidence to substantiate their applications. The Department is currently examining all applications and the associated commonage evidence regarding this commonage with a view to payments issuing to the nominated bank accounts of the appropriate herd owners as soon as possible.
268. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment under the basic payment scheme and the area of natural constraints scheme will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40167/15]
View answerAn application under the 2015 Basic Payments/Areas of Natural Constraints Schemes was received from the person named on 29 April, 2015. Processing of the application under both schemes has recently been finalised and payment will issue shortly, directly to the nominated bank account of the person named.
269. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive farm payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40188/15]
View answerThe person named submitted an application under the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme/Areas of Natural Constraints schemes on 23 April, 2015. Processing of the application under both schemes has recently been finalised and payment will issue to the nominated bank account of the person named shortly.
270. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment under the basic payment scheme and the areas of natural constraint scheme will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40189/15]
View answerThe person named submitted a 2015 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme application on 18 May 2015. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases on farm inspections, be completed before any payments issue. The application of the person named was selected for a ground eligibility inspection. This inspection is currently being processed with the intention of issuing any payments due under the Direct Payments Schemes as soon as possible. In the event that any queries arise officials in my Department will be in contact with the person named.
271. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline the regulatory, legislative or other steps he will take to address the issue of the large number of stress-related illnesses and deaths of hares in coursing compounds every year. [39260/15]
View answerUnder the provisions of the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958, the regulation of coursing is chiefly a matter for the Irish Coursing Club (ICC) subject to the general control and direction of Bord na gCon (BnG). The ICC has assured my Department that it has extensive systems and practices in place to underpin the welfare of hares and greyhounds involved in coursing and that it goes to great lengths to ensure the highest standards of welfare are adhered to.
A Monitoring Committee on Coursing is in place, comprised of officials from my Department, the ICC and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), to monitor developments in coursing and in that regard the situation is kept under constant review to ensure that coursing is run in a well controlled and responsible manner in the interests of both hares and greyhounds.
Hares can only be collected for coursing by clubs affiliated to the ICC in accordance with the terms of two licences granted by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. These licences contain 26 conditions which have been refined over the years, the majority of which are central to hare welfare, including the following:
- All clubs shall arrange for a qualified veterinary surgeon to be in attendance during all of their coursing meetings, who shall prepare a signed report on the health of the hares and on any injuries or deaths of hares that occur during the meeting;
- Hares may not be coursed more than once on the same day and all necessary arrangements shall be made to ensure that hares that have been coursed can be readily identified to ensure this condition is rigidly observed;
- Sick, injured or pregnant hares shall not be collected for coursing; hares that become sick or injured or that appear to be pregnant while in captivity may not be coursed;
- Adequate escapes must be provided while coursing hares pursuant to the licence;
- All hares must be released back into the wild during daylight hours the day after a coursing meeting is concluded, unless otherwise agreed with the relevant NPWS staff beforehand; and
- Hares must be released back into the wild at the same locations from which such numbers were captured, unless otherwise agreed beforehand with the relevant NPWS staff.
There must be full compliance with the Directives, Instructions and Guidance Notes issued by the Irish Coursing Club in all matters relating to the capture, keeping in captivity, tagging, marking, coursing and release of hares, and the muzzling of greyhounds.
The ICC attends to the welfare of the hare as evidenced by the following:
- The health status of all hares is assessed prior to placing in the Hare Park following netting;
- Hares are treated for a range of common ailments under veterinary supervision;
- Hares are released into the Hare Park which is laid out to replicate the wild with appropriate cover and shelter;
- Footbaths are located in the Hare Park to treat/prevent any minor foot issues;
- Hares are fed on a diet of oats (whole or sheaf), sallies (branches of young trees), apples and fresh water;
- The feeding and training of hares is confined to a limited number of people with the relevant expertise;
- All hares are familiarised with the coursing stretch and with the escape located at the top of the coursing field;
- Prior to each meeting, the hares and facility are inspected by a Hare and Field Committee member, a veterinary surgeon and ICC Control Steward;
- A veterinary surgeon certifies whether or not the hares are fit to course;
- A veterinary surgeon is appointed to attend on the day of coursing to advise and administer care when required;
- The Executive Committee (Board) of the ICC appoint one of its members to oversee each coursing meeting with powers to curtail or abandon a meeting if required;
- An ICC Control Steward is appointed to each meeting to ensure all rules are adhered to by the host club;
- On conclusion of the coursing meeting all hares are released back into the countryside under the supervision of an ICC steward and a Wildlife Ranger (if in attendance) each coursing meeting is documented to capture relevant information regarding the conduct of the meeting as required by the NPWS - this information is submitted to the NPWS and is available under FOI legislation;
- The ICC’s Hare & Field Committee advise and instruct clubs on best practice in terms of hare welfare and field layout to ensure greyhound welfare;
- The ICC provide full/partial grant aid to clubs to develop their facilities to ensure best practice;
- Quercus of Queens University Belfast, concluded that where there are coursing clubs there are 18 times more hares than in the wider countryside.
A review of the outcome for the most recent season indicates that the procedures and processes in place in terms of animal welfare are appropriate given that 99.49% of hares were released back to the wild at the conclusion of coursing.
