Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

When the Deputy raised this issue last month, I went back to the Department and said I wanted these jobs advertised. I made sure they were advertised. To be fair to our rangers, we have a shortage of staff. We had over 3 million visitors into this country last year and these rangers have to deal with habitats, protected species and all sorts of work. They need the rangers. On the issue the Deputy raised about the cruelty to animals, officials from my Department attended both of the meetings that the Deputy talked about. There is footage there of what actually happened and there will be discussions with the coursing club about this.

I am giving Deputy Clare Daly a commitment to the effect that when the report is finalised, we will give her a copy of it. My officials were there and they witnessed what actually happened. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has responsibility for welfare issues.

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