Responding to Dail statements from pro-bloodsports TDs Mattie McGrath and Michael Healy-Rae today (22 October), Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said that hare coursing was "a topic of discussion at a Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting last night" and that they are going to try and clarify today if coursing can be exempted from Level 5 COVID19 restrictions along with greyhound racing and horse racing.

Yesterday, it was confirmed by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage that hare coursing was to be stopped from midnight on Wednesday.

This morning, the Department tweeted: “Following discussions with the NPWS [National Parks and Wildlife Service], hare coursing licences have been suspended with effect from midnight last night. The Irish Coursing Club and its affiliated and associated members have agreed in the interests of public health not to run coursing meetings/events”.

The announcement followed appeals for the cruel bloodsport to be halted in line with the new nationwide COVID19 Level 5 restrictions which clearly state: “No organised outdoor gatherings should take place."

In an appeal, ICABS urged Health Minister Stephen Donnelly and the government to take action to stop coursing and eliminate the public health risk posed by large gatherings of bloodsport enthusiasts.

Brought to their attention was the fact that during Level 3 restrictions, crowds of coursers had shamefully been congregating in coursing fields to watch hares running for their lives. Two people were permitted entry with each greyhound, meaning that around 150 people (plus organisers) were in attendance at each meeting.

For example, at Liscannor coursing meeting in Clare on 10/11 October, over 144 people were permitted to attend. On the first day of the Abbeydorney meet in County Kerry last Friday, 74 greyhounds were listed, meaning as many as 148 people could be in attendance. A long line of vehicles could be seen parked bumper to bumper inside the coursing field.

At Ennis Clarecastle, 52 greyhounds were listed, with up to 104 or more people present. On the first day of the Westmeath United meeting last Saturday, 72 greyhounds were listed, with up to 144 or more people attending.

Despite growing worries about coronavirus and increasing infections and deaths, the coursers are determined not to let the pandemic get in their way. A published coursing fixtures list included 65 1-, 2- and 3-day meetings around the country between now and the end of February. Several coursing meetings were brought forward to this week in an apparent attempt to get around expected Level 5 restrictions - a notice on the Irish Coursing Club website (which was removed on Tuesday) had stated that there would be no coursing during Level 5.

In our appeal to the government, ICABS pointed out that coursers coming together for their barbarism would be breaching Level 5 restrictions by not only gathering in large numbers but also by travelling from county to county and exceeding the 5km domestic travel limit.

“In the interests of public safety and doing everything possible to slow the spread of COVID-19, it is imperative that you act to prevent coursing meets from going ahead,” we told Minister Donnelly, Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Tanaiste Leo Varadkar.

The government must NOT reverse the decision to stop coursing. Giving a free pass to coursers would be completely reckless and make a mockery of public health guidelines. The vast majority of Irish citizens want the bloodsport not only stopped during the pandemic but permanently banned.

Greyhound racing has also been continuing. It has disgracefully been exempted from Level 5 restrictions along with horse racing and Gaelic football, while businesses and services must close down, resulting in hardship for many citizens.

Find out more about Coronavirus (COVID-19) and how you can protect yourself and your family at https://www2.hse.ie/coronavirus/

ICABS is calling on Minister Darragh O’Brien, who issued the coursing licences last month, to permanently withdraw them and act to ensure that all captured hares currently in captivity are immediately released back into the countryside where they belong.

URGENT ACTION ALERT

Contact Tanaiste Leo Varadkar, Taoiseach Micheal Martin and the Irish Government today and demand a permanent end to cruel hare coursing.

If you are aware of any coursing activities taking place in your area, contact the local Gardai and ask them to take action - find contact details at https://www.garda.ie/en/Contact-Us/Station-Directory/

Leo Varadkar, Tánaiste
Telephone: +353 (0)1-704 3630 OR +353 (0)1-640 3133
Email: leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
Tweet to: @LeoVaradkar
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeoVaradkar

Micheál Martin, Taoiseach
Email: micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie; info@fiannafail.ie
Phone: +353 (0)1–618 4350 or +353 (0)21-432 0088
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD

Contact Minister Darragh O’Brien and demand a permanent withdrawal of the 2020-21 coursing licence and the immediate release of all hares currently in captivity in coursing compounds.

Minister Darragh O’Brien (Fianna Fail, Dublin Fingal)
Tel: (01) 618 3802 OR (086) 251 9893
Email: darragh.obrien@oireachtas.ie; minister@housing.gov.ie
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DarraghOBrienTD
Twitter: http://twitter.com/DarraghOBrienTD

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