Changes to the foxhunting code banning the digging out of foxes, except in very controlled circumstances, were welcomed yesterday by the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mr Walsh.
Speaking at the opening of the 125th Kerrygold Horse Show at the RDS in Dublin, the Minister expressed pleasure that the rules of hunting had been changed to favour the fox.
He had used the same occasion last year to criticise the practice whereby foxes which had escaped underground from the hounds were then dug out by huntsmen and killed by the hounds.
The Irish Hunting Association had announced a change in the rules on Tuesday which said that, in all circumstances, the fox would be given fair advantage before being hunted.
The rules also specified that only in certain circumstances, i.e. if a fox was diseased or maimed or deformed, would digging-out be undertaken.
Mr Walsh said he was a country person and supported country pursuits but he could not condone cruelty, and for that reason he welcomed the assurances from the association that their hunts would comply with and enforce the new rules.
"I am pleased to note that the agreed common set of rules and procedures which apply to the practices of digging out, bolting and earth-stopping, have been agreed," he said.
"I regard the measures which have been announced as positive advances and I welcome the fact that the foxhunting bodies have responded to my expressed concerns in relation to such practices."
He said there had been a difficulty with hare coursing as well and it had not been easy to introduce muzzling of greyhounds. This was now working.
Thousands of Irish people continued to enjoy hare coursing, he said, without the hare being killed.
Mr Walsh told a press conference the Government was committed to the Irish sport horse industry which had grown enormously over the last few years.
He said the preparation, schooling and training of young horses, combined with equestrian education, were seen as key stages in the development of the industry.
He added that the Government's strategy of developing a number of smaller-size horse-marketing and training centres at sub-regional level was progressing and he had given approval in principle to nine projects for EU funding.
Asked if the money being spent by the Government on the non-sport horse industry was returning good value for money, the Minister said he believed it was.
The concentration now would be on improving the quality of the Irish horse and he revealed it was Government policy to try to keep the Irish bloodlines free of external bloodlines such as continental animals.
He also confirmed that the Irish Horse Board Co-operative's application for £2.5 million from structural funding was being examined by the Department.
Mr Walsh praised the RDS for staging the Horse Show, an event which cost £1 million and which, he said, was more than just a horse show. It was also one of the summer's most prestigious social events, with fashion and style, music and dancing, food and drink and specialist exhibitions.