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

152. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the fact that due to the cancellation of a national coursing meeting in Clonmel, County Tipperary, due to weather conditions, hares were kept in unnatural and stressful captivity overnight at the venue, while awaiting the meeting to recommence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6664/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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, which is the statutory body with responsibility for the improvement and development of the greyhound industry, greyhound racing and coursing. The ICC has confirmed to my Department that it has systems in place to underpin the welfare of animals participating in coursing events. These include mandatory inspections of hares and coursing venues in advance of the commencement of an event.

The ICC has confirmed that its rules provide for the postponement/cancellation of meetings in the event of adverse weather conditions, e.g. snow, frost or waterlogged ground, which may impact negatively on the welfare of the hare and/or the greyhound. The ICC activated this provision when it postponed the National Meeting scheduled for Monday, February 2nd 2015, to Sunday, February 8th2015, due to unfavourable conditions caused by frost. I am advised that the hares received appropriate care and feeding in the intervening period.

I am advised that the National Meeting commenced with 177 hares and following the completion of 209 competitive courses, all of the 177 hares were released back to the countryside in accordance with the conditions of the Licences granted by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

The ICC has informed my Department that it ensures:

- Veterinary care is available to the hare at all times. Coursing Clubs employ a veterinary surgeon to attend at coursing meetings to administer care as deemed appropriate to any animal in need of attention.

- The health status of all hares is assessed a veterinary surgeon (appointed by the ICC) and a member of the Hare & Field Committee and an ICC Control Steward prior to coursing.

- A member of the Executive Committee of the ICC oversees each coursing meeting. This person has 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). The hare is examined by the veterinary surgeon and will not be coursed again irrespective of outcome of examination

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

- Wildlife Rangers are officials of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and these officials attend a number of coursing meetings, including the National Meeting to monitor compliance with conditions of the licences issued by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. These licences facilitate the tagging and capturing of hares for the purpose of hare coursing.

- The conduct of each coursing meeting is monitored 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 has assured my Department that the measures outlined above underpin the welfare of animals participating in coursing events, and were in place throughout the period during which the hares were in the care of the ICC for the National Meeting.