Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy says, it is an unusual angle, but it remains eminently fair. It is a condition that is set out by another party. As the Deputy stated, she went through the records and not only could she not find evidence of whether hares were identified as male or female, she also - I do not mean this to be funny - could not find evidence of whether the pregnancy status or otherwise of female hares was established. Therefore, there are two subsets of analysis that have not been completed. If it is a condition, one would expect that there would be some analysis in relation to compliance or otherwise with, as the Deputy says, condition 10. This is an important matter. Deputy Whitmore's commitment to animal welfare is shown by the extent of the investigations she has undertaken. I appreciate that anybody looking in on these proceedings could take a wry view, but it is a serious matter. I appreciate what the Deputy is saying.

The licence for the upcoming 2023-24 season is under consideration at present. The Deputy's views, alongside those interested stakeholders and parties, will be included in the deliberations relating to the licence.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service has commenced a major project to review and update wildlife legislation. As the Deputy will be aware, it is a multiyear project. It is looking at every facet of our wildlife legislation, including the Acts, European Union regulations and related statutory instrument. In excess of 200 issues have been identified so far. Each of those will need to be examined and worked through more closely as the project develops. It will involve several phases of public consultation. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage expects the first phase of formal consultations to commence later this year.

The Department, I am informed, would welcome the Deputy's input into this review. It would be valuable because if we are to set conditions, we have to be serious about them. If we are not to test the analysis against it, whether or not the pregnancy status or otherwise of the hares is tested for is a different issue. We should either not set the condition or set it and monitor it. However ,we have to be serious about the matter.

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