Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left) | Oireachtas source

I will certainly suggest that they do that, but I would respectfully say to the Minister that the monitoring of licences is the prerogative of her Department. Some of the conditions for the licences are being severely breached. In Mallow, for example, nobody attended the meeting arranged by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS, officer to meet the coursers. In Liscannor, a ranger was intimidated when she asked to check the hare paddock, yet co-operation with NPWS officers is a condition of the licence being granted. Having a vet on call is another condition of the licence. Some animal welfare groups and information from the Department's NPWS officers verify that such breaches are taking place. I presume when that happens it is a basis for stating the licence should be revoked. There is obviously a bigger picture in the sense that the activity in its entirety should be banned, but there are issues the Department could examine now.

The Minister said she had no concerns about hare stocks but the figures are at variance with the real experience of the NPWS officers. I will get the groups to contact the Minister in the hope that it might assist in advancing the issues.

See this speech in context