Netting licence dilemma for Green minister

THE Fianna Fáil-Green Party coalition came under new strain last night over the capture of hares by coursing clubs around the country.

Each coursing club affiliated to the Irish Coursing Club is required to have a licence issued by the Department of the Environment before it can legally go out into the countryside to net hares for the new season, which commences today.

However, clubs have been unable to get the required legal paperwork from the department and a number of Government ministers have been besieged with requests for the licences to be issued.