Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Yes. That might be useful. I can provide a briefing note to members of the committee on the various areas in order that we can have a discussion on the issue the next day. I do not want to raise people's expectations that I will start banning a series of practices that I do not believe should be banned. However people need to know the actual position in terms of what is legally permissible, the codes of conduct and whether they are being adhered to and the powers I have under this legislation to introduce new codes of conduct, if that is appropriate. For example, people who use working terriers have asked that I introduce a mandatory code of conduct to ensure a distinction is made between the people who know what they are doing and behave in a reasonable way in that area and those who do not. Those issues need to be examined.

In regard to prohibition of animal cruelty, section 12(12) states:

Nothing in this section applies in relation to anything which occurs in the ordinary course of-(a ) fishing,
(b ) lawfully hunting an animal, unless the animal is released in an injured, mutilated or exhausted condition, or
(c ) lawfully coursing a hare, unless the hare is hunted or coursed in a space from which it does not have a reasonable chance of escape.

We have put some qualifications in place and I am sure we will have a long discussion on that section. I do not have an opportunity to get into that debate now.