Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party) | Oireachtas source

The Minister makes the point that hare coursing is part of people's upbringing and club history, etc. Our point is that the success of the greyhound industry and the continuance of coursing clubs do not depend on killing, hunting or maiming hares. It is simply not the case. People who want to continue with these clubs and to exercise their dogs, which many of them love, do not require thousands of hares to be netted, torn from the countryside, used as live lures for greyhounds, kept in captivity for weeks, trained to run up a field and then released for pairs of dogs to chase. The fact that some hares are only maimed, receive a broken leg or experience trauma before being released is not really a justification.

As a result of attitude changes and campaigning efforts by animal rights and welfare activists, changes in this area were made, not least because of the efforts of the former Deputy Tony Gregory and some of our other predecessors. The fact that dogs are now muzzled has obviously reduced deaths, but it has not eliminated them. While it is true that veterinarians and National Parks and Wildlife Service staff make checks, I put it to the Minister that against the backdrop of the requirements the Bill imposes to monitor and care for other animals, it would be better not to waste the time of officials in attending hare coursing events. They should concentrate on meaningful jobs which really protect the welfare of animals in different circumstances.

While it may be true that not every hare who participates in coursing dies, no coursing event takes place which does not see the death of a hare. We have a catalogue released under the Freedom of Information Act by the National Parks and Wildlife Service which lists instances of death and injury. We could be here all day listing them. For example, in Clarecastle and Ennis in 2011 and early 2012, five hares were hit, three of whom died in the escape after coursing. On day 2, seven hares were hit, two killed and four injured. There were eight fatalities. In Wexford, 12 hares were found to be unfit for coursing. Of the 86 hares captured, a number were found to be missing. In Thurles, ten hares were hit, two were injured and two died.

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