Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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354. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if hare coursing meetings at Fermoy and Trim, scheduled to take place last weekend, were called off; if so, to outline the reasons for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49563/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 354 and 375 together.

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 (NPWS).

The ICC has informed my Department that Fermoy Coursing Club completed the first day of the event on November 1^st. The second day did not proceed due to weather-related infrastructure issues. The ICC has further informed my Department that Trim Coursing Club event did not take place for administrative and operational reasons.