Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Obviously, I am pleased that we are recruiting new officers. I am unsure at which two of the three events to which I adverted officers were in attendance, but I am pleased we will get the report. It is a change from the answer on the previous occasion. In that vein, I am appealing to the Minister of State in light of the revelations about the events that occurred in Rathdowney this week and the horrific plight of the hares. There are stories of 78 hares being mauled, utter carnage and three dogs having to be put down. Will the Minister of State have this matter investigated by National Parks and Wildlife Service officers?

I understand the scheduled coursing meeting for December has now been postponed. Shockingly, it has been rescheduled for January. How in God's name could a coursing club allow something like that to happen? It did not have its hares protected properly and it allowed the dogs to carry on that activity. I am calling on the Minister of State to have this matter investigated and to have the licence withdrawn if the stories are verified. It would send an urgent signal to show that these issues have to be addressed. This is a protected species and it has been undermined by the barbarity to which I refer. This issue is well past its sell-by date and it needs urgent attention.

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