Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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342. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to the identity of persons involved in capturing hares for coursing clubs; and if financial transactions take place between the trappers and the clubs. [13027/18]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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My Department issued licences to the Irish Coursing Club (ICC) on behalf of its affiliated clubs to capture and tag hares for the 2017/18 coursing season. The licences include a large number of conditions relating to the operation of these coursing events and include a condition that all persons involved in capturing hares must have written certification, duly signed by the Coursing Club Secretary or the Secretary of the ICC, certifying that the person is a member of a Coursing Club affiliated to the ICC. This certification must be produced for inspection to a member of An Garda Siochana or an authorised officer of my Department.  

I have no information as to any financial dealings involved in the capturing of hares.

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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343. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she is satisfied that all registered coursing clubs are accurately recording the purchases of all hares in accordance with their legal requirements and are compliant with the Revenue Commissioners. [13028/18]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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In August last year, my Department issued licences under the Wildlife Acts to the Irish Coursing Club, covering some 87 affiliated coursing clubs, to capture and tag hares for use at regulated hare coursing meetings for the 2017/18 season, which extended from the end of September 2017 to the end of February 2018.  Those licences contained a total of 22 conditions which have been developed and refined over the years. Subsequently, in October last year, my Department augmented the licencing conditions to provide for more strict regulation of coursing trials.  

Compliance with the requirements of the Revenue Commissioners is a matter for each coursing club and not a matter in which I have a statutory function.