That's our lovely green party dictating.
The other 2 shower of muppets are gutless.

I wish to update coursing club members, owners, trainers, sponsors and supporters, of the amended legislation dealing with exempted sporting activities during Covid-19 Level 5 that is effective from December 24 at 3pm.

On December 2, Coursing was included on SI 560 of 2020 and this legislation is now amended in the form of SI 695 of 2020, resulting in coursing not being permitted as the country enters Level 5 status.

The ICC Executive is seeking clarity in respect of this amendment given the rationale for inclusion on the original SI has not changed. This query is being addressed to the Department of An Taoiseach and the Department of Agriculture.

With deep regret, this means the Christmas/New Year calendar of events cannot take place as scheduled and no netting of hares will take place in compliance with legislation.

I will update you further when more information is to hand.

In the meantime, I wish you and your families a peaceful and safe Christmas.

D.J. Histon

On Christmas Eve, the Government decided not to include coursing as an exempted activity without any explanation as to why we are the only activity removed from SI 650 of 2020.There appears to be little appreciation of what resources and organising is involved in preparing for a coursing meeting. The ICC set out clearly the reasons why coursing should continue similar to other comparable activities in terms of Covid-19 but we are unaware of any objective proportionate reasons as to why other comparable activities are permitted and coursing is not.

This is clearly disconcerting for clubs in the first instance and greyhound owners secondly, that have complied fully with all Covid-19 protocols after enduring limited opportunity to run their greyhounds since the commencement of the season. The ICC is self-funding and it appears there is little appreciation of this fact and that we are not in a position to offer a care package similar to other State Bodies. As an interim measure, the Executive Committee decided to waive coursing mating cert fees and coursing litter declaration fees as part of a more comprehensive suite of measures to be announced going forward.

Currently, we are left with the unanswered question as to why coursing was removed from the statutory instrument that is permitting other comparable activities. The much-anticipated St Stephens Day coursing meetings, due in no small part to the herculean effort by club members, are now in abeyance, as are those due to commence over subsequent days. Coursing had been let down in a serious way and this is not to belittle the current rise in Covid-19, it is merely to highlight that the risks associated with the continuance of coursing are no greater than other comparable sports, more particular, when we only have nine weeks remaining until the end of the season.

The Executive Committee is invoking all means possible to remedy the matter on your behalf.

I will update you further on Tuesday.

D.J. Histon

CEO/Secretary