Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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341. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide details of measures being taken to prevent cruelty to animals involved in hare coursing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46863/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Under the provisions of the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958, the regulation of coursing is chiefly a matter for the Irish Coursing Club (ICC) subject to the general control and direction of Bord na gCon (BnG). The welfare of greyhounds involved in coursing is provided for in the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011 which inter alia requires that persons who course greyhounds must have regard to the “Code of Practice in the Care & Welfare of the Greyhound”, developed jointly by the ICC and BnG.

The ICC has assured my Department that it has extensive systems and practices in place to underpin the welfare of animals participating in coursing and that it goes to great lengths to ensure that the highest standards of hare and greyhound welfare are adhered to.

A Monitoring Committee on Coursing was established during the 1993/94 coursing season and comprises of officials from my Department and representatives from both the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the ICC to monitor developments in coursing and in that regard the situation is kept under constant review to ensure that coursing is run in a well controlled and responsible manner in the interests of both hares and greyhounds alike.

The ICC adhere to the conditions attached to the licence granted by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht under Section 34 of the Wildlife Act 1976 (as amended) for the capture of hares for coursing. The Licence requires that all clubs :

- “shall arrange for a qualified veterinary surgeon to be in attendance during all of their coursing meetings, and that he/she shall prepare a signed report on the health of the hares and on any injuries or deaths of hares that occur during the meeting.”

- “any hare captured pursuant to the Licence may not be coursed more than once on the same day and all necessary arrangements shall be made to ensure that hares that have been coursed can be readily identified to ensure this condition is rigidly observed.”

- “sick, injured or pregnant hares shall not be taken under the Licence”.

- “hares that become sick or injured or that appear to be pregnant while in captivity may not be coursed”.

- “adequate escapes must be provided while coursing hares pursuant to the Licence”.

- “all hares must be released back into the wild during daylight hours the day after coursing meeting is concluded, unless otherwise agreed with the relevant NPWS staff beforehand.”

- “the same number of hares must be released back into the wild at the same locations from which such numbers were captured, unless otherwise agreed beforehand with the relevant NPWS staff.”

-“the removal from this jurisdiction of hares captured in this jurisdiction under the terms of the licence is strictly prohibited.”

- “in all matters relating to the capture, keeping in captivity, tagging, marking, coursing and release of hares, and the muzzling of greyhound, there shall be full compliance with the Directives, Instructions and Guidance Notes issued by the Irish Coursing Club.”

The ICC ensures:

- The health status of all hares is assessed prior to placing in Hare Park following netting

- Hares are treated for a range of common ailments under veterinary supervision

- Hares are released into Hare Park which is laid out to replicate the wild with appropriate cover and shelter

- Footbaths are located in Park to treat/prevent any minor foot issues

- Hares are fed on a diet of oats (whole or sheaf), sallies (branches of young trees), apples and fresh water in general

- The feeding and training of hares is confined to a limited number of people with the relevant expertise

- All hares are familiarised with the layout of the course.

- Prior to each meeting, the hares and facility are inspected by a Hare & Field Committee member, a veterinary surgeon and ICC Control Steward

- Coursing Clubs employ a veterinary surgeon to attend at coursing meetings who see to any animal in need of attention.

- The Executive Committee of the ICC appoint one of its members to oversee each coursing meeting with powers to curtail or abandon a meeting if required

- An ICC Control Steward is appointed to each meeting to ensure all rules are adhered to by the host club

- In the event of a hare being compromised (pinned by muzzled greyhound(s)) a dedicated Hare Steward is appointed (2/3 stewards operate to ensure efficient intervention). This hare is examined by appointed vet and not coursed again irrespective of outcome of examination

- On conclusion of the coursing meeting all hares are released back into the countryside under supervision of ICC steward and Wildlife Ranger.

- Each coursing meeting is documented to capture relevant information regarding the conduct of the meeting as required by the NPWS and the ICC and this data is returned to the NPWS.

- The ICC appointed Hare & Field Committee advise and instruct clubs on best practice in terms of hare welfare and field layout to ensure greyhound welfare

- The ICC provide full/partial grant aid to clubs to develop their facilities to ensure best practice

A review of the outcome for the most recent coursing season indicates that the procedures and processes in place in terms of animal welfare are appropriate given that 99.4% of hares were released back to the wild at the conclusion of coursing.

Any incidents that the Deputy may be aware of should be brought to the attention of the relevant authority.