Published Thursday, 10 September 2009
Edwin Poots renewed the temporary prohibition on killing, taking, selling or buying the animals.
There are around 27,400 of the creatures in Northern Ireland.
Mr Poots said: "The conservation mechanisms that my Department has put in place are bearing fruit and the number of Irish hares is being sustained.
"However, until all data from the surveys undertaken so far can be analysed in 2010, I believe that there is a need for continued temporary protection. Therefore I am proposing that a new Special Protection Order should be made."
The special preservation order by former Environment Minister Angela Smith was challenged in the High Court in 2005 but was eventually upheld.
The court ruled the minister was entitled to consider animal welfare as well as conservation issues in deciding to protect hares.