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Parliamentary Questions and Answers
Question 709 - Answered on 21st April, 2015
Sean Kenny, TD: (Dublin North East, Labour Party)
To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views of reports that hares are extinct on Dublin's North Bull Island; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Heather Humphreys
The Irish Hare (Lepus timidus hibernicus) is found throughout the country. It is classified as a “protected species” under the Wildlife Acts 1976 to 2012, as well as being listed in Annex V of the EU Habitats Directive (Council Directive 92/43/EEC). Under Article 17 of the Directive, Member States are obliged to report to the European Commission on the status of listed habitats and species every six years. Each species is assessed according to its range across Ireland, the population, the quality of its habitat and its future prospects. The Irish Hare was given a favourable conservation status in the Report entitled “The Status of European Union Protected Habitats and Species in Ireland”, which was submitted to the Commission in 2013. A copy of the report is available on the website of my Department’s National Parks and Wildlife Service at www.npws.ie.
The Bull Island is monitored regularly by officers of my Department, but, despite these efforts and those of local landowners, the hare population has remained at very low levels for the past 20 years.
ACTION ALERTS
Please call the dog warden if you spot dogs off leads on Bull Island (Tel: 01 222 3371).
Contact Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Arts/Heritage Minister Heather Humphreys and urge them to provide funding for at least one wildlife ranger and dog warden to be assigned exclusively to Bull Island. Remind them that Bull Island is an important and internationally recognised nature reserve and that it is imperative for the wildlife to be protected.
An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny
Department of the Taoiseach,
Government Buildings,
Upper Merrion Street,
Dublin 2
Telephone: 01-6194020
Fax: 01-6764048
Email: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie
Tweet to: @EndaKennyTD Tweet to @EndaKennyTD
Leave a comment on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/endakennyofficial
Arts/Heritage Minister Heather Humphreys
Email: Heather.Humphreys@oireachtas.ie
Tel: (01) 631 3802 or (01) 631 3800
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heather.humphreysfg
Tweet to: @HHumphreysFG Tweet to @HHumphreysFG
SAMPLE LETTER
(If you have time, please compose your own personal letter. Otherwise, feel free to send the short sample letter below. Be assertive, but polite, in all correspondence. Thank you.)
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Dear Taoiseach / Minister
I was saddened to learn of fears that the iconic Irish Hare is now extinct on Bull Island, an internationally recognised wildlife reserve just five miles from your Dublin offices. Hares have disappeared from the island despite it having the most designations of any nature site in the Republic of Ireland. It is a UNESCO-designated biosphere reserve, a National Nature Reserve and is part of the Natura 2000 Network. It is a Special Protection Area under the EU Birds Directive and a Special Area of Conservation under the EU Habitats Directive. It should be a cause of great concern and embarrassment to the government that this unique species is gone from what is one of the country's most important nature reserves. Particularly as the cause - believed to be the unleashing of dogs by visitors to the island - is easily addressed. I appeal to you to urgently act. Please assign a wildlife ranger and dog warden exclusively to Bull Island to help protect wildlife. Thank you. I look forward to your response. Yours sincerely, [Name/Location] |
Sign and share our petition - Stop Licensing Cruel Hare Coursing
Express your support for a ban on coursing. Sign and share petitions
Stop Licensing Cruel Hare Coursing
Save Irish hares from cruel coursing
Ban horrific hare coursing cruelty in Ireland
Stop sponsoring hare coursing in Ireland
Urge Minister Heather Humphreys to show compassion for the persecuted Irish Hare and stop licensing hare coursing.
Email "Minister Humphreys - Stop licensing cruel hare coursing" to Heather.Humphreys@oireachtas.ie
[Heather.Humphreys@oireachtas.ie,ministers.office@ahg.gov.ie,taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie,joan.burton@oireachtas.ie,wildlifelicence@ahg.gov.ie,Gerry.Leckey@ahg.gov.ie]
Tel: (01) 631 3802 or (01) 631 3800
Leave a comment on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/heather.humphreysfg
Tweet to Heather Humphreys: @HHumphreysFG
Tweet to @HHumphreysFG
SAMPLE LETTER
(If you have time, please compose your own personal letter. Otherwise, feel free to send the short sample letter below. Be assertive, but polite, in all correspondence. Thank you.)
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Dear Minister Humphreys,
I am one of the majority who want hare coursing outlawed. I am writing to urge you to stop licensing this cruel activity. In coursing, hares suffer at all stages - during the capture, during the time they are kept in captivity and during the coursing meetings where they run for their lives in front of greyhounds. Among the injuries recorded are broken legs, damaged toes and dislocated hips. Every season, hare injuries and deaths are documented. I ask you to please act on the wishes of the majority, show compassion and stop licensing hare coursing. Thank you. Yours sincerely, [Name/Location] |
Appeal to the Minister for Agriculture
Please appeal to the Minister for Agriculture to remove an exemption for hare coursing from the Animal Health and Welfare Act.
Simon Coveney, TD
Minister for Agriculture
Agriculture House,
Kildare Street, Dublin 2.
Email: Simon.Coveney@oireachtas.ie
Tel: 01-607 2884 or LoCall 1890-200510.
Fax: 01-661 1013.
Contact all your local TDs now. Demand that they urgently push for a ban on hare coursing and all bloodsports. Tell them you are one of the majority who want coursing banned. Remind them that coursing is already illegal in Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales. Urge them to respect the wishes of the majority of the electorate and back a ban.
Find out their contact details
Please also arrange a meeting with your TDs at their local clinics.
