Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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1175. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the presence of pregnant hares at the Balbriggan and Borrisoleigh coursing meetings in November and December 2024 constituted a breach of licence condition 11 which states "pregnant hares shall not be taken under the licence"; and if so, the action being taken. [18877/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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There is no evidence of pregnant hares being present at the Balbriggan/Trim coursing meeting. It is understood that the Question may relate to two young hares which were seen in the vicinity of the coursing field and were captured by the Coursing Club. These young hares were not coursed and they were released with the main cohort of hares under National Parks and Wildlife & Irish Coursing Club supervision.

The presence of pregnant hares at a coursing meeting does not constitute a breach, in and of itself, as the hare could have become pregnant following capture. The situation in relation to pregnant hares at Borrisoleigh is currently being investigated.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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1176. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will refuse 2025-2026 hare netting licences for coursing, given that this cruel activity causes a serious disturbance to the Irish hare in that it involves removing thousands of hares from the wild and is therefore in breach of Article 15 of the EU Habitats Directive which states that "in respect of the capture or killing of species of wild fauna listed in Annex V ... Member States shall prohibit the use of all indiscriminate means capable of causing local disappearance of, or serious disturbance to, populations of such species". [18878/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Licences for the capture and tagging of hares are issued to the Irish Coursing Club (ICC), which is a body set up under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 and hare coursing is administered by them. Statutory responsibility for the Act resides with the Minster for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Licences issued by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department include a significant number of conditions which must be met by any club operating under the ICC in relation to coursing hares. Coursing events are monitored by staff of the NPWS, where possible, to ensure that conditions are being met. I have no plans to withdrawn the current licences.

The Irish hare is listed on Annex V of EU Directive 92/43/EEC (the Habitats Directive) and this listing requires member states to manage the species sustainably. The Habitats Directive also requires Ireland to make a detailed report every six years on the conservation status of all listed species, including the Irish hare. Ireland’s most recent report in 2019 included a comprehensive assessment of the range, population status, habitat and threats for the Irish hare. The report can be viewed here: www.npws.ie/publications/article-17-reports/article-17-reports-2019

The 2019 report notes that the hare is widespread and common in Ireland with a broad habitat niche; it is found throughout the country from coastal habitats to upland heath and bog. While the report does highlight some concerns about the loss of habitat quality due to agricultural intensification and afforestation, overall the species is considered to be in favourable conservation status. In addition, the most recent Red Data List for Mammals in Ireland (2019) confirmed that the species is not threatened; it assessed the Irish hare as “Least concern". Further details are available at the following link: www.npws.ie/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/Red%20List%20No.%2012%20Mammals.pdf