Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

9. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason no action was taken to sanction those coursing clubs mentioned in reports (details supplied) who made the work of rangers very difficult in checking that the rules and regulations as per the licence are applied; the reason the meetings at both venues went ahead this year with no sanctions in relation to the breaches the previous year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40060/14]

Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

This question relates to sanctions against coursing clubs which are in breach of regulations. Instead of sanctions, licences were given recently to them.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Licences were issued by my Department in August 2014 under the wildlife Acts to the Irish Coursing Club on behalf of their affiliated clubs to facilitate the tagging and capturing of hares for the purpose of hare coursing for the 2014-2015 coursing season. Where resources allow, officials of the NPWS attend coursing meetings on a spot-check basis to monitor compliance with conditions on the licences granted by my Department. Veterinary officials from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine also attend some meetings on an annual basis.

The reports of officials from my Department who attended the two coursing meetings referred to in September and October 2013 indicated there was a lack of co-operation with them in the course of their duties, an issue which I take very seriously. Following engagement with the clubs in question and with the Irish Coursing Club, the body that oversees individual coursing clubs, written assurances were provided to my Department that both clubs would fully co-operate with officials of my Department at all times and that they would adhere to all licence conditions. On the basis of these assurances, I decided not to impose sanctions against the clubs on this occasion. At the same time, both clubs have been issued with written warnings that any further transgressions, especially relating to lack of co-operation with NPWS officials, would result in my Department imposing future sanctions against the clubs.

It is clear this approach has worked satisfactorily to date. A meeting of one of the clubs which took place last month was attended by a conservation ranger who reported that there was full co-operation forthcoming. The meeting of the other club, due to take place this week, will also be monitored by officials from my Department.

Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Not granting a licence this year would certainly have ensured better acknowledgement of the conditions. It was horrifying to read the reports. As the Minister said, the lack of co-operation and the incidence of intimidation were specifically mentioned in one report while the other report mentioned serious issues. The ranger was unable to verify if a number of hares had been released, 39 hares were unaccounted for and the ranger had no idea what had happened to those.

There are serious issues around coursing and I am very well-known for being against live hare coursing. Reports from previous years indicate the occurrence of serious breaches and the only way to bring home the point and to ensure serious breaches do not occur is for licences to be revoked. Will the Minister consider this and bear in mind that Ireland is one of a very small minority of countries that allow live hare coursing? Will the Department consider an investigation into the use of drag hare coursing, as is the case in other countries?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The matter was brought to my attention and I discussed it with the officials concerned. I decided that in the circumstances the Department should write to the clubs and I also spoke to some representatives from the clubs. I listened to both sides and I discussed it with the officials. I wrote to the clubs asking them to give me assurances, which they did, that this would not happen again. I made it very clear to them that if it did happen, they would be sanctioned immediately. One coursing meeting was held and everything was in order and according to plan. The personnel there were quite happy with the way the event was carried out. Another event is planned for this week and the official will be in attendance. My letter expressed my serious concerns but the issue was resolved by means of dialogue and the coursing event was allowed to go ahead in a safe and proper manner.

Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I remind the Minister that there have been reports of breaches every year, not just this year. The clubs are assuring the Minister with their words but we shall see. We know about empty vessels making the most noise. They are giving the Minister these assurances but I am in no doubt there will be breaches this year.

Is it not somewhat perverse that the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is licensing a so-called sport but which is deliberate animal cruelty? This cruelty begins from the time the hares are collected with the use of nets on various offshore islands and other places in the country and are brought into these coursing fields. There is documented evidence every year of the injuries and killings of hares in a most cruel way and reports of injuries to the greyhounds. The Minister stated in a media report that the persecution of wildlife is intolerable, but this is persecution of wildlife and I do not think it has any place in a Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, nor has it any place in a country that is supposed to value animal welfare.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The approach I took in this case worked satisfactorily. The control of live hare coursing, including the operation of individual coursing meetings and managing the use of hares for that activity, is carried out under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958, which is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. While I understand that many individuals are opposed to hare coursing, there is no evidence that coursing has a significant effect on hare populations. The decision to issue the licences took into consideration that favourable conservation status of the hare as detailed in the report on the status of European Union protected habitats and species in Ireland which was provided to the European Commission in 2013. Hares can show significant inter-annual fluctuations in population and recent estimates indicate that the Irish hare population varies from approximately 250,000 to more than 500,000.

Regional management staff of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department monitor compliance with the conditions of the annual licences issued to the Irish Coursing Club as resources allow. During the 2013-14 coursing season, 37% of meetings were monitored by officials from my Department. In addition, as stated in my reply to the Deputy, veterinary staff from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine carry out some monitoring inspections during the coursing season to verify compliance.