Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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480. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he will take in respect of coursing similar to his Department's policy to ban the use of animals for entertainment purposes at circuses in view of his Department's commitment to animal welfare and the recent video footage of hares being severely mauled at meetings (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50011/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, 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). This is 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 that it has systems in place to underpin the welfare of animals participating in coursing events. In particular hounds are muzzled to minimise injury.

The ICC requires that a veterinary surgeon and a control steward are present at all coursing meetings. In addition veterinary officials from my Department and Rangers from the National Parks and Wildlife Service (part of the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht) also monitor a number of meetings during the coursing season.

An example of the ICC's positive approach toward the issue was witnessed last week with the postponement of a meeting due to unfavourable weather conditions.

At the conclusion of the Ardpatrick and Kilfinane coursing meeting, all 66 participating hares were successfully released.

The Deputy can be assured that my Department will continue to carefully monitor the situation in order to ensure that coursing is run in a well controlled manner. I welcome the strong emphasis being placed on welfare issues at coursing meetings. I do not intend introducing a ban on hare coursing.