Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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27. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to breaches of the stag hunting ban; and her plans to amend the existing legislation. [16748/15]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I refer the Deputy to my reply to today’s Question No 14.

The Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2010 makes it an offence to hunt deer with two or more dogs. It is understood that since the enactment of the legislation the hunt in question have operated a “drag hunt” in order to comply with the legislation. This form of hunting involves the release of a deer to set a scent over a course. Following the recapture of the deer, the hounds and horses follow the scent. This practice is not considered to be hunting as defined in the Wildlife Acts,

My officials have also met with representatives of the hunt in question on a number of occasions on foot of complaints that there have been breaches of the 2010 legislation. Both the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department and An Garda Síochána are currently investigating those alleged breaches and, if there is sufficient evidence to support the allegations, prosecutions will be brought under the Wildlife Acts.

I have no plans to amend the 2010 legislation in regard to these matters.