Animal Health and Welfare (Ban on Hare Coursing) Bill 2020

Public bill · Private Member · Introduced

The measure would ban hare coursing with dogs, including competitive events and training exercises that use live hares. It would remove legal exemptions that currently allow hare coursing under animal welfare and wildlife laws, and it would change related greyhound legislation to shift support toward lure coursing instead. In practice, it would end a long-contested activity that animal welfare groups describe as cruel, and bring Irish law closer to the approach already taken in nearby jurisdictions.

Formal long title

Bill entitled an Act to prohibit the coursing of hares with dogs and for that purpose to amend the Wildlife Act 1976 and the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, to make consequential and other amendments to the Greyhound Industry Act 1958 and other Acts relating to such coursing and to provide for related matters.

Last updated 9 July 2026