Minister for the Environment John Gormley has asked the Meath-based Ward Union Hunt to address certain concerns about its stag hunt before he makes a final decision on whether to grant it a licence for the forthcoming season.
It was reported in recent days that Mr Gormley was going to refuse to grant a licence to the Ward Union Hunt for stag hunting.
In a statement this evening, Mr Gormley said he had decided to issue licences, based on applications under the Wildlife Act 1976, to the Irish Coursing Club for the capture and tagging of hares for the coming season.
Minister for the Environment John Gormley
He said, however, that he will be "strictly monitoring the clubs for adherence to licence conditions".
"I am aware that there has been some incidents where there has been a failure to co-operate with my Department's conservation rangers at meetings," he said.
"The rangers have an important role in ensuring that the conditions of the licences are met. I take a very serious view of this issue and I will not tolerate any breaches of conditions of the licence or any interference with the conservation rangers while carrying out their job."
Mr Gormley said that on the basis of breaches of the previous licence, he has decided to exclude one of the affiliated clubs from the licence for the coming season and to curtail the activities of two other affiliated clubs. He did not name them.
The Minister confirmed he is "considering whether or not he should grant a license to the Ward Union Hunt in relation to carted stag hunting".
"I have a number of serious concerns in this regard and I am writing to the Ward Hunt to afford it an opportunity of addressing those concerns before making a final decision on the matter. I will not be commenting any further on this issue until I have received and considered all relevant information," Mr Gormley said.
The Ward Union Hunt is the only such group in the country to hunt carted stags, which are brought by cart to a specific area where they are released and then hunted.
Under the Wildlife Act the Minister can issue or refuse a licence. The Minister licences a stag hunt itself, based on the conservation of wildlife, giving consideration to the conduct of the hunt and the treatment of the deer.
The Ward Union was involved in controversy last January when a stag was chased into a playground at a national school in Co Meath as children were leaving the school, followed by the hunt's dogs.