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14/10/2003
Minister snares hare coursing plans
Plans by a coursing club to net hares for a coursing meet have been snared by NIO Minister, Angela Smith.
The application from Dungannon and District Coursing Club was turned down because of the low number of hares in Ireland, the Minister said.
“The Irish hare is in danger. It is low in number and the DOE has published a species action plan, which has among its objectives the doubling of the Irish hare population by 2010," Mrs Smith said.
"Although I accept that the dogs are muzzled during coursing, there is evidence that deaths among the coursed hares can arise from causes other than being bitten. Anything that puts the lives and welfare of the Irish hare at risk is inconsistent with the policy objectives of the species action plan.”
The Minister also expressed her concern about the practice of importing hares, including Irish hares, netted in the Republic of Ireland for coursing events in Northern Ireland.
“I understand that the club may have imported sufficient hares from the Republic of Ireland to allow the planned coursing event to proceed. I would be concerned that these could include Irish hares. The Irish hare is a sub-species endemic to the island of Ireland," she added.
Angela Smith also announced that the Department of Environment will be going to public consultation shortly on a proposal to make a temporary special protection order to prevent the killing or taking of hares.
(MB)
The application from Dungannon and District Coursing Club was turned down because of the low number of hares in Ireland, the Minister said.
“The Irish hare is in danger. It is low in number and the DOE has published a species action plan, which has among its objectives the doubling of the Irish hare population by 2010," Mrs Smith said.
"Although I accept that the dogs are muzzled during coursing, there is evidence that deaths among the coursed hares can arise from causes other than being bitten. Anything that puts the lives and welfare of the Irish hare at risk is inconsistent with the policy objectives of the species action plan.”
The Minister also expressed her concern about the practice of importing hares, including Irish hares, netted in the Republic of Ireland for coursing events in Northern Ireland.
“I understand that the club may have imported sufficient hares from the Republic of Ireland to allow the planned coursing event to proceed. I would be concerned that these could include Irish hares. The Irish hare is a sub-species endemic to the island of Ireland," she added.
Angela Smith also announced that the Department of Environment will be going to public consultation shortly on a proposal to make a temporary special protection order to prevent the killing or taking of hares.
(MB)
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