The Minister for Agriculture and Food yesterday ruled out holding an inquiry into fox-hunting in Ireland.
"As far as I can see there is no need or demand for such an inquiry," said Mr Walsh, who was attending the Kerrygold Dublin Horse Show. The inquiry had been demanded by the Irish Council Against Blood Sports.
Some years ago, he said, he had called in the fox-hunting people and they had drawn up a code of conduct to cover their activities and which banned practices he disagreed with.
He said he was satisfied that this code was being adhered to by the hunting fraternity.
"We have only had two complaints from the public since 1998, and neither of them was sustained," he added.
He admitted that fox hunts were not inspected by the Department but said fox-hunting was a very public sport and was held in the open.
"The public can see and follow the hounds and if they want to make a complaint we will deal with it and investigate it," he said.
Mr Jim Beecher, assistant secretary of the Department of Agriculture, said prosecutions could be taken under the Cruelty to Animals Act and, if hunts misbehaved, they could face the ultimate sanction of destroying their own sport.