Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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377. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he has given consideration to a matter (details supplied). [34614/20]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Government has spelt out specific areas where certain activities could continue during the current COVID-19 Level 5 Phase. While it was noted that horse racing and greyhound racing were given a special dispensation by Government to continue behind closed doors, it was not clear to my Department that the body in question had an exemption to continue its activities. However, that body was asked to indicate where it believed such an exemption might exist and pending further consideration a temporary hold was placed on the license in question. At the same time the body in question decided to cease its activities on the basis of the COVID 19 Level 5 Restrictions introduced by Government.

The body in question was formally asked on 20 October to release hares which its affiliated clubs were holding in captivity at that time. The body in question has since agreed to the release of all such hares. The National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department did not carry out specific health and safety assessments of the type referred to in the question.