Four out of the five recently elected TDs in the Wicklow constituency are in favour of a ban on cruel bloodsports, ICABS can reveal.
- Before the general election, John Brady TD (Sinn Fein) stated: “Hare coursing needs to be banned", adding that "there is an appetite" within Sinn Fein to change its current pro-coursing policy. Previously, Deputy Brady told ICABS: "I totally oppose all forms of ‘blood sports’ I think the practice of killing or maiming animals for someone’s enjoyment is wrong and should not be even considered as a sport.” Sinn Fein has recently announced that it is opposed to foxhunting and will vote in favour of a ban at the next opportunity.
- Stephen Donnelly TD (Fianna Fail): Deputy Donnelly has in the past voted in favour of proposed bans on hare coursing and fox hunting.
- First time TD, Steven Matthews (Green Party) has told ICABS that he is "against animal cruelty in any bloodsport form.” The Green Party is in favour of a ban on hare coursing and fox hunting and is being urged to push for a ban on both in government formation talks.
- New TD Jennifer Whitmore (Social Democrats) has this week stated: “Foxhunting and Hare Coursing don’t belong in a modern, progressive society. Terrifying and torturing animals should never be described as a sport.” The Social Democrats are in favour of a ban on fox hunting and hare coursing.
Fine Gael's Simon Harris is being urged to join his four constituency colleagues in expressing support for a ban on bloodsports. In the past, he has voted against a ban on cruel hare coursing.
ACTION ALERT
With a RED C opinion poll confirming that a 77 per cent majority want hare coursing and fox hunting banned (with just 9 per cent disagreeing with a ban on coursing and 12 per cent disagreeing with a ban on fox hunting), it is now time for politicians to consign these nasty bloodsports to history. Contact all the newly elected TDs and demand that they act to ensure that a ban is urgently introduced. Visit the Oireachtas website for contact details for TDs https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/tds/?term=/ie/oireachtas/house/dail/33
Contact the leaders of Fine Gael, Fianna Fail, Sinn Fein and the Green Party to tell them that you want hare coursing and foxhunting urgently banned.
Leo Varadkar
Leader, Fine Gael
Government Buildings,
Upper Merrion St, Dublin 2
Telephone: 01-619 4020
Email: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie; leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
Tweet to: http://www.twitter.com/@LeoVaradkar
Leave a comment on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/LeoVaradkar
Micheál Martin
Leader, Fianna Fail
Constituency Office
137 Evergreen Road,
Turner’s Cross, Cork
Email: micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie
Phone: 021-432 0088
Leinster House: 01–618 3000
Leave a comment on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD
Mary Lou McDonald TD
Leader, Sinn Fein
Tel: (01) 727 7102
Email: marylou.mcdonald@oireachtas.ie
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaryLouMcDonald
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MaryLouMcDonaldTD
Eamon Ryan
Leader, Green Party
Tel: 01 618 3894
Email: eamon.ryan@oireachtas.ie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EamonRyanGP/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EamonRyan
Sign and share the petitions
Irish Government: Stop Giving Millions of Euro to Cruel Greyhound Industry
https://www.change.org/p/irish-government-stop-giving-millions-of-euro-to-cruel-greyhound-industry
Ireland - Ban cruel hare coursing
www.change.org/p/ireland-ban-cruel-hare-coursing
STEPHEN DONNELLY TD (FIANNA FAIL, WICKLOW)
In June 2016, as a Social Democrats TD, Stephen Donnelly was one of the 20 compassionate TDs who voted in favour of Deputy Maureen O’Sullivan’s bill which sought to ban hare coursing.
On 27th March 2013, Stephen Donnelly supported amendments to the Animal Health and Welfare Bill which sought to outlaw hare coursing, foxhunting, terrierwork, digging-out, ferreting and fur farming.
STEVEN MATTHEWS TD (GREEN PARTY, WICKLOW)
“I’m against animal cruelty in any bloodsport form.” from a tweet to ICABS, December 4th 2014.
JOHN BRADY TD (SINN FEIN, WICKLOW)
“Hare coursing needs to be banned. Wicklow Sinn Fein brought forward a motion at a recent Ard Fheis calling on the party [to] support the banning of hare coursing. It was debated at the Ard Fheis, however it was narrowly defeated. We are going to go at it again as I believe there is an appetite now to change the policy” John Brady TD, Comment on Facebook, 6th February 2020)
In June 2016, John Brady abstained/was not present in the vote on Deputy Maureen O’Sullivan’s bill which sought to ban cruel hare coursing. The bill was defeated by 114 votes to 20 (with the remaining 24 TDs abstaining/not voting).
“It was a really horrible situation, the three children were hysterical and petrified and Bonnie was in great distress. This individual had no control over that bird. I have friends in the falconry community and they say this man’s actions are disgraceful. I am sure the gardai will be investigating whether the bird was licensed and I have no doubt that this beautiful bird is in the wrong hands.” Mr Brady is now calling for tighter control on owners of birds of prey. from ‘It sank talons into my dog’s head’ – Garda probe after TD’s pet attacked by hawk, Irish Independent, 21 March 2017.
In 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, voted against the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations which granted €80 million/€80 million/€84 million/€84 million of taxpayers’ money to horse and greyhound racing.
“When businesses advertise JobBridge internships in which they seek applicants such as fully qualified architects or, as in a more recent example, a fox hunting organisation advertises for the position of first whipper-in, it is clear that the scheme has been and continues to be abused.” John Brady TD – Dail Eireann Priority Questions, National Internship Scheme Review, 25 May 2016 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTBERWqHtTg
“As an animal lover and someone that works continuously on animal welfare issues, I totally oppose all forms of ‘blood sports’ I think the practice of killing or maiming animals for someone’s enjoyment is wrong and should not be even considered as a sport.” from an email from Cllr John Brady to ICABS, June 2015.
“Sad to hear that Tilikum the famous Orca died in SeaWorld. The 36 year old Orca spent 33 years in a small tank in SeaWorld after being taken from the wild off the coast of Iceland. This cruelty needs to be ended for all Orcas.” John Brady TD in a 7th January 2017 Facebook post.
JENNIFER WHITMORE TD (SOCIAL DEMOCRATS, WICKLOW)
“Foxhunting and Hare Coursing don’t belong in a modern, progressive society. Terrifying and torturing animals should never be described as a sport.” – Tweet from Jennifer Whitmore TD, 23 February 2020.
“Short answer…Yes” – in reply to an ICABS email enquiry asking “Are you in favour of a ban on cruel hare coursing and foxhunting?” October 2014.
The Social Democrats are in favour of a ban on fox hunting, hare coursing and fur farming. The party’s animal welfare policy states: “The Social Democrats strongly advocate animal rights and recognise animals as intelligent, sentient beings capable of complex thought and of experiencing pain and suffering…We are in favour of harsher penalties for animal cruelty” See the full policy at https://www.socialdemocrats.ie/our-policies/
SIMON HARRIS TD (FINE GAEL, WICKLOW)
In June 2016, Simon Harris was among the 114 TDs who voted against Deputy Maureen O’Sullivan’s bill which sought to ban cruel hare coursing.
In December 2016 and 2017 voted in favour of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations which granted €80 million/€80 million of taxpayers’ money to horse and greyhound racing.
Wicklow Fine Gael TD, Simon Harris, has stated that he is looking forward to the introduction of the new animal welfare bill. Deputy Harris stated ‘I have spoken directly to Minister Coveney regarding several issues around animal welfare in County Wicklow. Minister Coveney has stressed that the new bill will provide for a clearer level of expectation of care for animals as well as trying to deal with some of the issues around how companies interacting with animals must act. ‘I am confident that the changes that will emerge when this bill is introduced will provide greater clarity around animal health and welfare. ‘The Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012 is currently at Committee stage and the updating of this Bill is a significant positive improvement on the existing bill and should bring necessary changes for the improvement of the health and welfare of animals,’ concluded Deputy Harris. SimonHarris.ie, November 26 2012
“To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to ban the docking of the tails of dogs-puppies and the removal of the dew nail, considering that both of these practices are banned by the Irish veterinarians body; if he will consider introducing such a ban in animal welfare legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.” (from a Dail Question, 3rd December 2013).