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Parliamentary Questions and Answers
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Question No. 473
To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the Wildlife Service is investigating reports regarding the taking of hares from Valentia Island; and if he will make a statement on the matter. (Tony Gregory). For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 3rd February, 2004. Ref No: 2747/04 REPLY Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Cullen): My Department is responsible for the issue of an annual licence to the Irish Coursing Club (ICC) and its affiliated clubs to capture live hares, under Section 34 of the Wildlife Act 1976 (as amended). Only clubs which are named by the ICC in their licence application request are permitted lawfully to catch hares. Any person catching hares other than in accordance with the conditions of the licence is open to prosecution. Any report indicating capture of hares in breach of the licence would be investigated, but my Department has no indication of such a breach in relation to the capture of hares at Valentia Island.
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