Hare Coursing Regulation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 October 2017

Tuesday, 3 October 2017

Ceisteanna (271)

Clare Daly

Ceist:

271. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 363 of 20 September 2017, if she will include at condition number four in the hare coursing licence, a provision that an obligatory return be made to her Department with the particulars of the number of hare deaths at coursing meetings in view of the fact the current licence provides at condition four that only injuries be reported. [41238/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

My Department issued licences under the Wildlife Acts to the Irish Coursing Club, covering their affiliated coursing clubs, to capture and tag hares for use at regulated hare coursing meetings for the 2017-18 coursing season which extends from the end of September 2017 to the end of February 2018.  I have made changes to this year's licence to include a condition formally requiring that an obligatory return must be made to my Department giving particulars including the number of hare fatalities.