Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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48. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she is satisfied that vulnerable injured hares were released without veterinary attention, placing them at greater risk of predator attack, after a coursing meeting in Liscannor on 27 September 2015. [31009/16]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It is a licence condition that a qualified veterinary surgeon should be in attendance during all coursing meetings and that a signed report on the general health of the hare, including in relation to any injuries of hares that occur during the meeting, should be submitted to my Department.

The Liscannor meeting in September 2015 was attended by a conservation ranger of my Department who monitored the release of the hares following the conclusion of the meeting. The official who approved the release of the hares identified that three hares appeared to have an injury but this was not considered a matter of concern at the time. Furthermore, I understand that the veterinary surgeon present at the meeting indicated to the conservation ranger that she had inspected the hares prior to release and that there were no concerns arising.