Paul Murphy: “It's very disappointing that the Government is not going to permit a free vote on stopping the cruelty of hare coursing.”

Seventeen-year-olds are legally able to drive a car, and yet the Government is now saying that they will not be able to ride an e-scooter.

We should not as a society, in 2026, be treating beautiful Irish hares in this way for our entertainment.

The needs of society, and of artists, should come before the needs of big tech.

I hope that some backbenchers defy the whip and vote in line with 77% of the public who want to see hare coursing banned.