The Irish Hare is NOT protected...Contrary to what certain groups groups try and make you believe. Although it is on the agenda...There is no reason, just like the defeat of the proposed hunting with dogs ban, that it cant stay off the protected list.
Irish hares in Northern Ireland have been subject to annual temporary Special Protection Orders (SPOs) sinse 2004 which prohibit the killing or taking, or the sale or purchase of hares. they tried to make it a full time protection order in june or july but it got threw out , there was talk of lifting the temporary orders in september 2010