Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
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2222. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the plans to ban or limit the practice of blood sports in Ireland such as hare coursing and fox hunting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43611/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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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. 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).

A monitoring committee on coursing is in place, comprising officials from my Department, the ICC and the 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 consider 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.

On the general matter of hunting, a detailed debate was held during the passage of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 and the Dáil decided to allow the continuation of fox hunting in accordance with an appropriate code of conduct.

Section 25 of the Animal Health & Welfare Act 2013 allows for the establishment of codes of practice and for the adoption of codes published by other persons for the purposes of providing practical guidance relating to any aspect of the Act, including fox hunting. Voluntary codes of practice have been established by the Hunting Association of Ireland which detail the conduct to be adhered to in respect of the hunting of foxes and the treatment of the animal during the hunt. The code also considers local concerns and the concerns of the landowner(s) on whose land hunting takes place.

I have no plans to change the existing legislation.