Irish hare is facing viable threat to its very species
THE presence of Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease in the Irish countryside has halted the 2019/2020 live hare coursing season.
An earlier suspension of the hare coursing licence is to remain in place. A Department of Culture and Heritage spokesperson has confirmed that there is no plan to reissue the licence.
This comes after the highlyinfectious disease, which the National Parks and Wildlife Service says could be ‘catastrophic’ for the Irish hare (Lepus timidus hibernicus), was identified in six counties.
RHD adds to the list of negative impacts on the Irish hare population.
Hare hunting, both legal and illegal, and habitat destruction was herding this species into a conservation red zone.
In the political arena, Minister Josepha Madigan, whose department has responsibility for issuing the annual hare capture licence to the Irish Coursing Club, appears devoid of any interest in hare conservation.
Despite the fact that live hare coursing is legal animal abuse, which represents a conservation danger to the hare population of our island – and the reality that the Irish hare is facing a viable threat from a species population impacting disease – the minister still issues a licence to the ICC permitting their members to capture and course hares.
RHD should be the catalyst for a conservation-based long-term approach to protecting this species.
A first step would be a ban on hare coursing, shooting, beagling and harrying. Activities that are anti-hare that add zero knowledge to hare conservation.
Efforts to confront RHD can then be focused without the distraction of recreational hare killing impeding efforts to curtail the impact of this lethal disease.
The Irish hare is facing a rural version of blue-light surgery. The outcome is not certain.
To lose the presence of the Irish hare from our countryside would be a grievous loss inflicted on future generations. JOHN TIERNEY, Campaigns Director, Association of Hunt Saboteurs.
Not so smart parents
IN Saturday’s Irish Daily Mail, Brenda Power wrote that giving children smartphones is as dangerous as giving them knives.
She’s right! Parents have to STOP giving these weapons of mass distraction and destruction to their children.
Why won’t parents say NO to smartphones? Answer: Saying YES is easier but, it’s not smart and it’s definitely not parenting! PHYL KENNEDY-BRUEN, Galway City.
The bald truth
THERE is some debate as to the qualities that make for the best political leaders.
Most are eloquent, well presented, generally intelligent (although not always) and honest (although not always).
Rather than looking for features that are common to the wellrespected leaders of the world’s countries, we need to look for something that is common to those that we don’t hold up as the leading lights.
The most obvious feature is an obsession with unusual hair, as is apparent with US president Donald Trump, British prime minister Boris Johnson and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
The answer is simple – vote for the bald guy – me! I have never accepted a bribe, although this has been made easier by never having been offered one either.
I am always willing to give my opinion on any topic, and am used to it being ignored – despite its obvious wisdom.
Don’t miss out on an opportunity to elect me whenever I stand next and, remember, vote early and vote often. DENNIS FITZGERALD, by email.
Not Keane on Roy
JON WALTERS may not be the best footballer to play for Ireland, but at least he always turned up.
Roy Keane, on the other hand, was without doubt one of Ireland’s finest players, but he didn’t always show up.
In fact, he was prone to pack his bag and leave his teammates in the lurch.
I hope Jon Walters tries his hand at management. He appears to have the right temperament for that occupation.
It would be a shame if he was reduced to the undignified example his nemesis Mr Keane is setting to earn a crust: trapezing around village halls to vent his spite on perceived lesser mortals such as Jon Walters and others too numerous to mention.