Debate Over Banning Of Hare Coursing Continues As Vote To Take Place Next Week

A vote will take place next Wednesday on the motion of banning hare coursing, with the Government set to oppose it.

Debates are continuing around the topic of hare coursing in Ireland.

Earlier this week, the Dáil debated a motion to ban hare coursing on animal welfare grounds, with a vote to take place next Wednesday - where the Government will oppose it.

Legal hare coursing is controlled under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958 and administered by the Irish Coursing Club (ICC) and is the responsibility of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

All greyhounds are muzzled during these coursing events.

Licenses are issued to the ICC under the Wildlife Acts to capture and tag hares for coursing meetings.

Speaking on Kildare Today, People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy, who is bringing the motion to ban hare coursing, outlined the "cruel treatment" of the practice:

"Hare coursing inherently involves cruel, terrifying treatment of the hares, which are a unique sub-species only seen in Ireland.

Every year, thousands of Irish hares are captured in the wild, they are netted, put into crates and are held in captivity in enclosures with multiple hares together when they are solitary animals, which is very stressful for them."

Deputy Murphy also said that hares are being chased by greyhounds "ten times their size" during this activity.

"They're being chased by two greyhounds that are ten times their size and their weight, sometimes the hares are pinned by the dog, thrown into the air and sometimes the hares die during the event or shortly afterwards."

He cited in November that during a meeting in old Kilcullen that five hares were pinned to the ground and one was killed after sustaining an injury.

"We just don't think that in 2026 we should be treating animals like this for our entertainment."

He also dismissed the idea that it is a rural vs urban debate, adding that both are "united" on the situation.

Also speaking on the show was John Troy, a representative of the Irish Coursing Club and Hare Husbandry in Kilcullen Coursing Club.

He says hare coursing has helped stop illegal hunting of hares:

"Over the last seven to 10 years, there's a huge amount of [illegal hunting] going on around the country, we are the protector of the hares in a number of the areas and we know we need to protect the hare because we need them to continue with our sport."

He added that there is a portal where illegal hunting can be reported.

"This has been going on for hundreds of years, we understand we have had to move with the times, it was the Irish Coursing Club who brought the muzzles in for the greyhounds."

"We are providing them with as much protection as we can," said Mr Troy, adding that without the coursing clubs, hares would be "under an awful lot of pressure from illegal hunting".

While accepting that the practice attracts much negativity, he insisted that hare coursing is one of most "highest regulated" sports in Ireland.

The vote is set to take place next Wednesday.

The full interview can be heard below: