Averil Power (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the powers granted to the Minister to set these regulations and agree that effective interventions should not have to wait on the outcome of court cases. However, while I welcome the improvements in animal welfare provided for in the Bill I am disappointed that the Government decided against banning live hare coursing. As the Minister is aware, the practice has been banned in most other countries, including the UK and Northern Ireland, and it is my strong personal view that it is a cruel pursuit. Other countries have managed to create a sport out of drag coursing without inflicting pain and cruelty on animals.

I have expressed this view to my colleague, Senator Ó Domhnaill, and our Dáil spokesperson, Deputy Moynihan, and I recognise that my personal opinion is in the minority in my party. I have discussed some of my party's other

amendments with my colleagues. They are being presented on behalf of the party and reflect the majority point of view. I am probably in a minority of one on some of the amendments with which I do not fully agree.

I note the Minister will have the power to make regulations and I hope he will consider a ban on live coursing. Fine Gael's position on stag hunting appears to have moved on, or at least it has not implemented its pre-election commitment to overturn the ban introduced by the previous Government. I hope its position on animal welfare issues will evolve in a similar manner.