Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her very graphic answer, which has confirmed the need to have suspended the licences and continue the suspension. The Minister has an awful lot of faith in the Irish Coursing Club and the advocates of coursing to report a diseased hare if they come across one. It will not be in their best interests to do so.

I read about the roadmap the Minister had been drawing up on this and I was struck by the extent of the work that is involved in this, with the field studies, tests, secure paddocks, CCTV, micro-chipping, nominated personnel to monitor this and a scientific literary review of the respective impact of RHD1 and RHD2. I wonder what the additional cost will be, as opposed to a straightforward ban on netting.

I know the Minister met Deputies and lobbies who are pro-coursing. I wonder if she facilitated those who are against coursing and also gave them time to put their points to her.

Was the Minister informed that if the suspension was not lifted, it could lead to a cull of those greyhounds that course, because such greyhounds are not really suitable for re-homing?

The Irish Coursing Club has said it will vaccinate the hares it captures against the disease but no vaccination will protect hares from being mauled, tossed and euthanised after a coursing meeting. While the vaccination is licensed in Europe, I do not believe it is available in Ireland and applies only to rabbits, not to hares. Of course, the lovely irony is that the Irish Coursing Club is going to continue to liaise with the NPWS and work to protect the status of the Irish hare. I note the use of the word "status". It is not referring to the survival or well-being of the hare, but then we know that the club is responsible for the injuries and deaths of many Irish hares and we have the facts on that.

Reissuing the licences was a retrograde step and I hope it will not come back to haunt us and mean the end of the iconic Irish hare.

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