Written answers
Tuesday, 18 April 2023
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Hare Coursing
Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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1099. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of coursing clubs that were active in the 2022-2023 season. [17152/23]
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Coursing is regulated under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958, chiefly by the Irish Coursing Club (ICC), subject to the general control and direction of Rásaíocht Con Éireann, Hare coursing is managed and regulated by the Irish Coursing Club.
The organisation consists of affiliated clubs from Ireland and Northern Ireland, all of whom are governed by the ICC’s rules and regulations.
The ICC has informed this Department that 90 Affiliated Coursing Clubs were active during the 2022/23 coursing season.
Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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1100. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if any welfare studies have been conducted by his Deptartment or Veterinary Ireland on the physical and mental trauma hares suffer as a result of coursing. [17155/23]
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Coursing is regulated under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958, chiefly by the Irish Coursing Club (ICC), subject to the general control and direction of Rásaíocht Con Éireann; hare coursing is managed and regulated by the Irish Coursing Club. The organisation consists of 89 affiliated clubs from Ireland and Northern Ireland, all of whom are governed by the ICC’s rules and regulations.
The granting of licenses for the netting and tagging of hares is a matter for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage – National Parks and Wildlife Service.
A monitoring committee on coursing is in place, comprising officials from my Department, the ICC and the National Parks and Wildlife Services (NPWS), to monitor developments in coursing and, in that regard, the situation is kept under constant review to ensure that coursing is run in a controlled manner.
The committee meets annually to review the previous coursing season and any matters arising.
It is important that those involved in coursing operate in accordance with the regulatory framework and that the welfare of both hares and greyhounds is at the forefront at all times.
Veterinary Ireland is an association of veterinary practitioners which is independent of my Department and any questions for Veterinary Ireland should be directed to their office.
Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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1101. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if any welfare studies have been conducted by his Department or Veterinary Ireland on the physical and mental trauma hares suffer as a result of coursing; and if not, the reasoning for allowing wild animals to be captured, traumatised, injured, and killed for the sake of entertainment and gambling. [17156/23]
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Coursing is regulated under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958, chiefly by the Irish Coursing Club (ICC), subject to the general control and direction of Rásaíocht Con Éireann; hare coursing is managed and regulated by the Irish Coursing Club. The organisation consists of 89 affiliated clubs from Ireland and Northern Ireland, all of whom are governed by the ICC’s rules and regulations.
The granting of licenses for the netting and tagging of hares is a matter for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage – National Parks and Wildlife Service.
A monitoring committee on coursing is in place, comprising officials from my Department, the ICC and the National Parks and Wildlife Services (NPWS), to monitor developments in coursing and, in that regard, the situation is kept under constant review to ensure that coursing is run in a controlled manner.
The committee meets annually to review the previous coursing season and any matters arising.
It is important that those involved in coursing operate in accordance with the regulatory framework and that the welfare of both hares and greyhounds is at the forefront at all times.
Veterinary Ireland is an association of veterinary practitioners which is independent of my Department and any questions for Veterinary Ireland should be directed to their office.
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