"Hares don't benefit from the five freedoms that underpin Irish animal welfare legislation" - Letter to the Editor in today's Irish Examiner Hares deserve our protection too Irish Examiner, 14 November 2017 The Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed, has introduced regulations banning the use of wild animals in circuses. This comes after long years of campaigning by many groups, and it is to be very much welcomed. Thankfully, we will no longer see majestic elephants chained up in fields, and other large animals dragged around the country in containers, for the amusement of the public. The Minister stated that this ban is "a progressive move", in line with the "five freedoms" for animals, as enshrined in the Animal Health and Welfare Act, two of which are freedom from pain, injury and disease and freedom from fear and distress. Right now, the hare coursing season is in full swing, with vulnerable, defenceless hares snatched from the wild in nets (courtesy of a licence granted by Arts Minister Heather Humphreys) and used as live bait for greyhounds at coursing matches around the country every weekend. These timid creatures are frightened and distressed when captured, and when chased by greyhounds. They suffer pain and injury when they are struck, pinned down and mauled by the muzzled greyhounds. These vulnerable, defenceless wild animals certainly suffer fear, distress, pain, injury and death during coursing, yet this barbaric activity is not illegal under the Animal Health and Welfare Act, and is exempted from prosecution. So, hares don't benefit from the five freedoms that underpin Irish animal welfare legislation. Last year, 114 TDs, including our Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, turned a blind eye to the barbarism that is hare coursing. They voted against Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan's private members bill, which would have outlawed this indefensible cruelty. Shame on them all! Aideen Yourell Spokesperson Irish Council Against Blood Sports Mullingar, Co Westmeath