A decision by Minister for the Environment John Gormley to issue licences to the Irish Coursing Club for the capture and tagging of hares has been criticised by the Irish Council Against Blood Sports.
Mr Gormley said he would strictly monitor coursing clubs for adherence to the licence conditions set for the hares' welfare.
The Minister pointed to advice from the Parks and Wildlife Service that of the 5,000 hares captured annually by coursing clubs, an average of 95 per cent are returned to the wild.
Mr Gormley said his responsibility "relates solely to the conservation of the species" and that coursing is under legislative control of the Department of Sport.
