It’s time for politicians to ban cruel hunting and coursing and give protection to foxes and hares, “the jewels in the crown of our wildlife heritage” - Read John Fitzgerald’s Letter to the Editor in today’s Irish Examiner...
Hunting animals must be stopped
Irish Examiner, May 27th 2020
There have been warnings from some politicians about the need to defend the interests of rural Ireland in the Programme for Government being hammered out by Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and the Greens.
I hope those “interests” will not be deemed by the parties to include the continued legality of hare coursing and fox hunting.
These abhorrent practices are stains on the countryside and Ireland’s reputation that do nothing enhance the quality of rural life. The gentle hare is trapped and forced to dodge dogs for human amusement. Some are mauled or have their bones crushed. All are subjected to the stress and terror of a contrived chase.
Thousands of them are used in this vile blood sport every year, and the last season was allowed to proceed despite an outbreak of a deadly, highly contagious disease that could have wiped out the hare population. The government went against scientific advice, choosing instead to listen to the hillbilly elements that have always got their way on this issue.
Likewise with foxhunting: Our animal welfare legislation has a special exemption to ensure that the pursuit of a wild dog by up to 30 or 40 other dogs (that rip its pain-racked body to pieces at the end of the chase) is not deemed cruel under Irish law. Overwhelming evidence of animal suffering is ignored in favour of concessions to “rural traditions” and political self-interest.
In recent days, both Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have been talking up their supposed Green credentials. Michael Martin emphasised in his Late Late Show interview on Friday that many of his party’s TDs are Green to the core.
Given that the Green Party’s official policy is to seek a ban on blood sports if its gets into government I hope its coalition partners live up to their new found eco-principles and agree, at long last, to give protection to the gentle hare and the wily fox.
Such a move would not amount to a betrayal of rural Ireland.
It would enhance it by safeguarding these jewels in the Crown of our wildlife heritage.
John Fitzgerald
Lower Coyne Street,
Callan, Co. Kilkenny
Find out more about John Fitzgerald
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1473520596
https://twitter.com/BadHareDays
http://banharecoursinginireland.over-blog.com/
Buy John Fitzgerald’s “Time to Stop Running” book
https://www.facebook.com/IrishHareBook/photos/a.2199689936935675/2199689870269015/
ACTION ALERT
Foxhunting and hare coursing are completely unacceptable in modern Ireland and a majority want them stopped. A RED C opinion poll, commissioned by the Irish Council Against Blood Sports, shows that a 77% majority agree that the Irish Government should ban foxhunting and hare coursing. The poll found that just 12 per cent disagree with a ban on foxhunting, while 9 per cent disagree with a ban on hare coursing.
Please join us in telling the Irish Government that it is now time to ban foxhunting and hare coursing. Contact all your local TDs and urge them to push for a ban on these bloodsports. Visit the Oireachtas website for names of TDs and their email addresses http://www.oireachtas.ie/members-hist/default.asp?housetype=0&HouseNum=33&disp=mem
Contact the leaders of Fine Gael, Fianna Fail, Sinn Fein, Labour Party and the Green Party to tell them that you want fox hunting and hare coursing banned.
Leo Varadkar
Leader, Fine Gael
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
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
Alan Kelly TD
Leader, Labour Party
Tel: 067 34190
Email: alan.kelly@oir.ie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alankellytd/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/alankellylabour
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
Keep hunters off your land
If you are a landowner, make your land off-limits to hunters. Find out more about how to do this on our Farmers/Landowners Page - http://www.banbloodsports.com/farmers.htm Encourage all land-owning friends and family members in the countryside to show compassion and make their land a haven for wildlife.