Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 1406: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the powers available to him in relation to the monitoring and licensing of hare coursing events; if it is legally possible to ban this activity without changing legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31090/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Hare coursing in the State is administered by the Irish Coursing Club which is a body set up under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958. Statutory responsibility for the Act is a matter for the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism. My responsibilities under the Wildlife Acts relate to the conservation of populations of certain protected species.

In any case where a hunting licence under the Wildlife Act, 1976, is required, each licence application is dealt with individually and any conservation impact on the particular species is taken into account in line with the provisions of the Act. My Department recently issued a licence under the Wildlife Acts to the Irish Coursing Club allowing its affiliated clubs to net hares for the purpose of hare coursing for the 2008/2009 season, subject to certain conditions. Clubs will be strictly monitored for adherence to these conditions.

There is no current evidence that coursing has a significant effect on hare populations and the decision to issue this licence took into consideration the report of the Status of Hares in Ireland — Hare Survey of Ireland 2006/07.

Animal welfare and legal protection of animals from cruelty are the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The Programme for Government includes a commitment that a comprehensive Animal Welfare Bill will be introduced, which will update existing legislation to ensure that the welfare of animals is properly protected and that the penalties for offenders are increased significantly.