Vol. 500 No. 6
95 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his attention has been drawn to the request by Mullingar Town Commissioners for an amendment to the law to ban live fox hunting; when a response will be made to this request; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4703/99]
I am aware that a motion calling on the Government to outlaw fox hunting was tabled at a meeting of Mullingar Town Commissioners on 15 December last. As I indicated previously, I am not disposed to banning fox hunting. From a welfare perspective, however, there are practices associated with this activity which caused me concern. I conveyed this concern to the bodies which represent organised fox hunting in Ireland. I am accordingly pleased to note that the Irish Hunting Association, which encompasses such bodies, announced in August last rules and procedures which apply in particular to the practices of digging out, bolting and earthstopping. I regard this as a positive development and I have welcomed the fact that the fox hunting bodies have responded to my expressed concern in relation to such practices.
The rules and procedures apply to all hunts which are members of the affiliated bodies of the Irish Hunting Association. These include the Irish Masters of Foxhounds Association, the Irish Foot Harriers Association and the Irish Masters of Harriers Association. I have received specific written assurances on behalf of each of these bodies that they are committed to ensuring compliance with the enforcement of these measures and to imposing severe sanctions on anyone found not to have complied with them. I accept these assurances as having been given in good faith and have made clear the importance which I attach to ensuring that there is indeed full compliance by all concerned. I would expect that these rules and procedures are being observed during the current season by all members of the Irish Hunting Association.
