Vol. 462 No. 4
6 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the kills and injuries to both hares and greyhounds at the recent three day coursing finals in Clonmel, County Tipperary; and his views on whether muzzling would take the kill out of coursing. [4708/96]
There were no hares or greyhounds killed at the national coursing meeting held in Clonmel on 5-7 February 1996 nor were there any reports of serious injuries to either hares or greyhounds. Officials from my Department who attended the meeting reported that the standard of coursing was exceptionally good and the welfare of hares and greyhounds was of paramount concern to the organisers of the event.
New control measures, including the muzzling of greyhounds, were introduced in 1993-94 with the intention of working towards the elimination of the kill. These measures have worked satisfactorily in keeping hare killings and injuries to an absolute minimum. All greyhounds participating in authorised coursing meetings are muzzled and there is good supervision of hares prior to during and after a coursing event. I am continuing to monitor developments in this regard and I am satisfied with the considerable progress that has already been made to date.
Is the Minister of State taking this question seriously when he states that the organisers of coursing events, such as the one held in Clonmel, have the welfare of hares at heart? Does he accept that the issue of cruelty to and the abuse of animals is a serious and important one? Does he agree with the view, which I share and which is based on a great deal of study, that there is a thin line between cruelty to and the abuse of children and cruelty to and abuse of defenceless animals; that the issue of the so-called blood sports where unnecessary suffering is inflicted on animals for the sole purpose of entertainment must be re-examined by any Minister who claims to be acting responsibly in this area; that the time has come to bring to an end the snaring and capture of gentle and inoffensive animals and their removal from their natural habitat so as to subject them to terror and suffering on the coursing fields? Will the Minister of State give me a serious response to that question?
I have always taken this subject seriously and made some practical proposals when the Deputy presented a Private Members' Bill over two years ago. The ICC and coursing fraternity take the issue of animal welfare seriously. A coursing meeting in Listowel was postponed because the hares had an infection. When it was subsequently held no hare was killed.
Prior to the introduction of muzzling more than 1,000 hares were killed annually. Last year 30 hares were killed and five injured. In 1993-94 when muzzling was introduced 267 hares were killed. This shows that there has been a considerable improvement in the statistics. I am satisfied with the trend and that, with improved veterinary supervision and husbandry of hares while in captivity, we can eliminate the kill from coursing.
Does the Minister of State agree that, even if the number of hares killed is 30, when removed from their natural habitat hares are subjected to unnecessary suffering — they feel terror and stressed in the same way humans do — when pursued on the coursing fields by greyhounds and that the only way to prevent this treatment of inoffensive animals is to introduce drag coursing where no live bait is used?
Drag coursing meetings are popular and run successfully in many parts of the country. On the issue of hare welfare, as long as there are hares, there will be coursing. No other section of the community looks after hares or their habitats better or is more concerned about their welfare than the coursing fraternity. There are people who are concerned about animal welfare, but they do not do anything to propagate the hare population.
Drag hunting would probably be a desired option, but the coursing fraternity prefer hare coursing. As someone who represents a rural constituency and is familiar with coursing, I have seen hares after they have been coursed. They relax rapidly once inside "the escape", sit down and eat grass.
There are several aspects to the animal welfare question. There is cruelty at abattoirs, if one wants to define it as such. Three years ago I sought the introduction of standards. I am happy that these are being imposed and complied with at coursing meetings.
If the Minister of State were put in an enclosed field and pursued by two pitbull terriers and vicious greyhounds — he may laugh — would he relax quickly after running the length of the field?
This is becoming farcical.
