AMID much ongoing concern in the hunting community nationwide over a lack of available insurance cover, prolonged policy negotiations are said to be going well and cautiously expected to yield a positive result in the coming two weeks.

London-based brokers are currently negotiating with European-based firms on a new policy which, if it comes through, will throw a lifeline to hunt packs nationwide. Extensive negotiations have been going on behind the scenes in recent months but are said to be now nearing a hopeful conclusion.

A life-changing accident on the Tipperary hunting fields resulted in a recent multi-million euro successful claim and triggered the insurance cover crisis for packs nationwide.

Acknowledging the anxiety existing over the current situation, chairman of the IMFHA David Lalor said: “Some hunts are lucky to have insurance to the end of November, others until after Christmas. We have alternative foot hunting going on elsewhere. There is plenty of hunting going on with cover in place. There is a lot of work going on behind the scenes to secure a suitable insurance policy, we are hopeful.”

Meanwhile, some 64 of the country’s 96 hunts contacted Balbriggan-based Goggin Insurance this week alone enquiring about insurance cover.

John D. Lyons of Goggin Insurance told The Irish Field: “We have no update yet. Our London brokers are working very hard to get a solution. We did think we would have a solution by this week, negotiations are still ongoing and it could be another two weeks. We are however quietly confident that a solution will be found.

“There is a very strong hunting ethos on continental Europe. It’s very popular in France, Germany and Luxembourg for example. We are optimistic, without raising expectations, that these negotiations will be successful. An awful lot of work has gone into this so far. These negotiations are going on for the last 12 weeks, we are trying hard to find a solution. We are hopeful we will have an update for everyone in two weeks’ time.”

Hunting with the Fingal Harriers and the Louths himself, Lyons pointed to the rich cultural heritage and also to the amount of rural jobs connected to the Irish hunting scene right across the country.

“Everywhere hounds are in, fit, and ready to go, the huntsman is ready, we are all waiting for the red flag. Hunting is massive part of rural Ireland, it’s part of our heritage, our culture and our history.

“It is a stepping stone into point-to-points, hunting is vitally important for the production of horses, for racing, and there is a lot of farriers, vets, and agri merchants who depend on hunting as well for their businesses,” he added.

Recently, the Fingal Harriers brought some 30 copies of their existing insurance policy out with them to allay any concerns of farmers and landowners whose land they might cross. “It put their mind at rest,” said Lyons, who suggested other pack officers with cover could do likewise.

Note: The Irish Field begins its ever-popular hunting coverage next week.