HC Deb 11 September 2003 vol 410 c470W
Mark Tami

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if there is a requirement to notify a local divisionary veterinary manager of an intention to import hares from the Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland; and how many notifications relating to hares were received during 2002. [128194]

Mr. Pearson

There is no requirement to notify a divisional veterinary officer of an intention to import hares from the Republic of Ireland unless:

  1. (i) the import is of a hare from the Republic of Ireland which has previously been brought to the Republic of Ireland from a country other than GB, the Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Northern Ireland and has not been detained and isolated in quarantine for a period of at least six months before entering Northern Ireland; or
  2. (ii) my Department has reason to believe that there is an outbreak of rabies in the Republic of Ireland.

In both cases, the importation of a hare is prohibited except under and in accordance with the conditions of a licence granted by the Department for which the importer has to apply. No applications for such licences were received during 2002.