Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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169. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the action he plans to take to ban fox hunting. [3772/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 requires persons to ensure that animals been hunted are not subject to unnecessary suffering and specifically prohibits the hunting of animals which have been released in an injured, mutilated or exhausted condition.

Voluntary codes of practice have been established by The Hunting Association of Ireland which detail the conduct to be adhered to in respect of the hunting of foxes and the treatment of the animal during the hunt. The Code prohibits the hunting of foxes where the animal is injured and advocates the humane disposal of a fox when captured.  The code also takes into account local concerns and the concerns of the landowner(s) on which hunting takes place.

While I have no plans to ban fox hunting, I have however recently asked officials of my Department to engage with the Hunting Association to determine whether the existing Code needs updating.