HUNTING and coursing should be allowed go ahead this season and cannot reasonably be regarded as a risk in actively spreading Covid-19 infection.

That’s according to Kerry TD Micheal Healy-Rae (Ind) who made the point on RTE’s Prime Time debate on the Level 5 restrictions on Thursday night’s programme.

Speaking to The Irish Field yesterday (Friday), Deputy Healy-Rae said: “It does not make any sense. A man going out with a dog coursing or hunting is doing no harm when it comes to this virus. Hunting, shooting, fishing and coursing are outdoor pursuits in quiet rural areas.

“It is a scandal what’s happening. Very stupid decisions are being taken by Government, backed by the Green Party, decisions are being made that don’t have any basis in fact and have no good reason to be made in the first place.

“How can anyone say that country pursuits are contributing factors in increasing the spread of this virus – they can’t, in my view.

“I gave the analogy of all the farmers gathering around the laptop outside the mart instead of being allowed in where they would be further apart.

“The Government is removed from reality and common sense. They are not listening. I would be extremely fearful that there will be another lockdown in February and March hitting the small man and woman again in particular,” added Healy-Rae.

“There is nothing more important than people’s health. I’ve been very supportive of the Government in certain areas. However, for example, last weekend 1,200 hares were released and what happened? People were out lamping for them and engaged in criminal activity in some instances. And what compensation was there for the clubs involved – absolutely nothing,” he pointed out.