Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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651. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her view on proposals (details supplied). [41727/19]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I made the decision in August to suspend the licences issued to the organisation in question on behalf of its affiliated clubs to capture and tag hares for the 2019/20 hare coursing season until a clearer understanding of the extent, spread and implications of the RHD2 virus emerges.   

Together with my colleague the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and officials of both Departments, we are finalising a roadmap which would allow for the collection of hares in a number of locations to assist the study of RHD2 in Irish hares. This study is intended to be carried out in collaboration with the body in question.

I believe this roadmap will provide us with essential information as to status of the virus in the hare population and may lead to the possibility of limited licensed coursing during the current season.