Clarification on Recreational or Sports Shooting/Hunting during Level 5 Restrictions
While we await clarification on crop protection and deer management, we received the communication below from the Crime & Legal Division of An Garda Síochána, Phoenix Park today, October 29th, 2020 regarding recreational or sports shooting/hunting during Level 5 restrictions.
This advice was provided to An Garda Síochána by the relevant government departments and legal advisors. We would urge members to continue to adhere to Government Covid-19 guidelines and restrictions (more information at www.gov.ie/covid19 )
An Garda Síochána Statement:
We have liaised with the Department today and the clear advice is, that under Level 5 restrictions, recreational hunting/shooting does not fall under any of the exemptions in the regulations allowable for exercise or sporting events. Additionally, recreational or sports shooting/hunting is not a permissible exemption for any person to travel outside of the home, irrespective of the 5Km rule.
An instruction has been issued to each Garda District, advising that under the current regulations as provided by Statutory Instrument 448/20, all forms of organised sports shooting is prohibited unless organised under license of a national governing body and funded by Sport Ireland. All other
forms of non-essential sports shooting is prohibited.
Shooting of vermin, rats, crows, etc, on farms for example, is permissible, as this form of shooting activity is deemed an essential support to farming and agriculture.
These restrictions remain in place until Level 5 restrictions are lifted.
Ends
Subsequent statements were relassed by the (click name to read) National Association of Regional Game Councils and (click name to read) Fields Sports Channel (click name to read) and An Garda Síochána
*This text should not be copied, or quoted without the permission of the
Irish Deer Commission
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*This text should not be copied, or quoted without the permission of the Irish Deer Commission
