Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 November 2021
273. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans in relation to coursing clubs (details supplied) which are based in areas in which live hare coursing is banned but have been able to run their live hare coursing meetings in Ireland; the location of the hares caught; the location of the storage of the animals; and the person or body that authorised these meetings. [57085/21]
View answerThe capturing of hares for coursing meetings is governed by a licence to capture live hares, under Section 34 of the Wildlife Act 1976 (as amended) issued to the Irish Coursing Club. This provides authority for the netting of hares within the State only, as per condition No 17, unless express permission or authorisation is provided by the relevant state authority outside of the jurisdiction.
Hares are not permitted to be netted outside the State without such licence or authorisation. Neither of the clubs referred to by the Deputy net hares in their respective jurisdictions as part of their participation in coursing within the State.
Details of the locations of the hares caught for individual coursing meetings are forwarded to my Department in advance of meetings, however, due to concerns around wildlife crime, the actual locations of the hare capture and hare release are kept confidential.
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 my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. My responsibility relates to the conservation status of the hare.
