Political Focus: Pro-coursing Longford-Westmeath Senator, Aidan Davitt (Fianna Fail, Longford-Westmeath) - one the politicians at the centre of the “GolfGate” scandal relating to over 80 individuals attending an Oireachtas Golf Society event in Galway on Wednesday. The gala dinner event, held at Clifden's Station House Hotel, came the day after the government announced new restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of Covid-19. These included limits on social gatherings, e.g. “no formal or informal events or parties should be organised in restaurants and cafes (including pubs that serve food and hotel restaurants)”.
According to the Fianna Fail website, former Westmeath County Councillor Aidan Davitt was first elected to the Seanad in 2016 and re-elected in March 2020 and is Managing Director of Sherry FitzGerald Davitt & Davitt Auctioneers.
In a Seanad speech in October 2019, following the suspension of licences for cruel coursing, Senator Davitt shamefully pushed for a full resumption of coursing, saying he and Fianna Fail were “not particularly happy” that only limited netting of hares was initially being allowed and calling for the process to be speeded up.
He told the Seanad: "I had a brief meeting with [pro-coursing TD] Jackie Cahill this morning in relation to coursing and the netting of hares. The two relevant Ministers, Deputies Madigan and Creed, have agreed to have a limited netting of hares for use in coursing. They're going to assess [the situation] over the next three or four weeks. The only complication is that by that time, a lot of the coursing season, it will be quite late unfortunately. It's fair to say that, talking to Jackie Cahill TD, that Fianna Fáil are not particularly happy with this position. They certainly would need a speedier resolution to this. We do welcome that a limited number of hares are going to be netted in the coming weeks, but we think that the long-term the plan is too long, to be honest. The Leader might talk to the relevant Ministers and speed this process up."
In supporting coursing, Senator Davitt is very much in the minority. A RED C opinion poll has shown that a 77% majority of Irish citizens want coursing banned, while just 9 per cent disagree with a ban.
ACTION ALERT
Urge Senator Aidan Davitt to reconsider his stance on cruel hare coursing and back a ban on the bloodsport.
Senator Aidan Davitt
Dominick Street,
Mullingar, Co. Westmeath
Email: Aidan.Davitt@oireachtas.ie
Leinster House Office: 01 618 3519
Mobile: 087 8235945
Contact Fianna Fáil and party leader Micheal Martin and urge them to respect the wishes of the majority of Irish citizens who want hare coursing (and foxhunting) banned.
Fianna Fail Head Office
Áras de Valera
65-66 Lower Mount Street
Dublin 2
Telephone: 01 676 1551
Email: info@fiannafail.ie
Micheál Martin
Leader, Fianna Fail
Email: micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie; info@fiannafail.ie
Phone: 021-432 0088
Leinster House: 01–618 3000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD
Sign and share our petition
Ireland - Ban cruel hare coursing
www.change.org/p/ireland-ban-cruel-hare-coursing
SEE ALSO:
Pro-bloodsports politicians are among those at the centre of the “GolfGate” scandal relating to over 80 individuals attending an Oireachtas Golf Society event in Galway on Wednesday https://www.facebook.com/banbloodsports/posts/3187713424677527
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