Time to tackle hare coursing (Letter in "Irish Post" Dec 16th 2017) In a recent radio interview, new Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan TD, was asked what unique stamp she would like to make on her challenging portfolio. I have a suggestion. Her brief encompasses the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) which in turn includes responsibility for deciding whether or not to issue a license permitting almost five months of live hare coursing in Ireland each year. Her predecessor, Ms. Humphreys, granted the license for the present season of this abhorrent blood sport a few months ago, and since then hundreds of hares have been forced to run from salivating dogs at venues nationwide, twisting, turning and dodging to avoid being mauled, forcibly struck, or tossed into the air like broken dolls. Some fixtures were filmed and the footage uploaded to YouTube, eliciting outrage on social media and thousands of pledges not to visit Ireland until hare coursing is banned. But just as the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht can grant the hare coursing license, she/he also the power to withdraw it. This is where Ms. Madigan can really make her mark. She could break the stranglehold in which coursing clubs have held our politicians for far too long. The hare is a gentle creature that has never harmed humans and poses no threat to us. It is one of the jewels in the crown of our wildlife heritage. Yet repeated Irish governments have failed to address its horrific and completely unnecessary ill treatment in a “sport” that is outlawed in most jurisdictions, including Northern Ireland. So, while wishing the new minister well in her brief, I appeal to her to act decisively against a blood sport that is cruel beyond measure and projects a negative image of our country. I hope she will stand up for the innocent hare and withdraw the coursing license. John Fitzgerald Campaign for the Abolition of Cruel Sports, Ireland