Clare Daly
Question:286. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will request that the NPWS undertake a monitoring of the activities of a group (details supplied). [49615/18]
View answerWednesday, 28 November 2018
Questions (286)
Written answers
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. This practice is not considered to be hunting, as defined in the Wildlife Acts. As such, officials of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department do not regularly monitor the release and recapture of the deer in these situations although occasional monitoring of a hunt may occur from time to time.
In addition, the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department would investigate reported breaches of the Wildlife Acts and, if there is sufficient evidence to support allegations, prosecutions would be brought under the Wildlife Acts.