Golfgate Senator Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) shamefully indicating support in the Seanad for cruel hare coursers and pheasant shooters.
In a 6 November 2020 Seanad speech, he stated: “I would support Senator Timmy Dooley's remarks this morning regarding the issue of rural pursuits, whether it’s coursing or pheasant shooting. That is one we need to look at.”
Earlier, Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail), pushed for exemptions for coursers and pheasant shooters under COVID19 Level 5 restrictions. Read more at https://facebook.com/banbloodsports/posts/3432177343564466
In August, Buttimer resigned as Leas Cathaoirleach of the Seanad after attending the Golfgate dinner at Clifden’s Station House Hotel the day after the government announced new restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of Covid-19, including “no formal or informal events or parties should be organised in restaurants and cafes (including pubs that serve food and hotel restaurants)”.
He is a supporter of cruel hare coursing and greyhound racing. In the past he voted against proposed amendments to the Animal Health and Welfare Bill which sought to secure a ban on coursing, foxhunting, badger culling and fur farming.
Speaking in the Seanad last October, he referred to “the issue of coursing and the netting of hares”, following a suspension of a hare netting licence by then Minister Josepha Madigan. He stated that she and the then Minister for Agriculture ”have been in negotiations and engagements with many members of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party on that issue and…the matter is being addressed – a process has been established between the Departments.”
He is on record as saying that he is “someone who has had a family involvement in greyhounds over the years”. In July 2012, the Irish Examiner revealed that he was part of a 14-man syndicate of Fine Gael TDs who “stumped up €250 each for a share in [greyhound] Swift Starlet after the 17-month-old bitch showed impressive form at recent trials.”
In 2010, he praised those involved in greyhound racing - an activity responsible for the killing of thousands of greyhounds every year - as “decent, honourable and hard-working”.
ACTION ALERT
Urge Senator Jerry Buttimer to reconsider his stance on animal cruelty issues.
Jerry Buttimer
Email: jerry.buttimer@oireachtas.ie
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JerryButtimer
Twitter: @jerrybuttimer
Contact Fine Gael and party leader Leo Varadkar and urge them to respect the wishes of the majority of Irish citizens who want hare coursing and foxhunting banned and funding to cruel greyhound racing stopped.
Fine Gael Headquarters
51 Upper Mount Street
Dublin 2
Tel: 01-619 8444
Email: finegael@finegael.ie
Leo Varadkar TD
Leader, Fine Gael
Telephone: +353 (0)1-704 3630 OR +353 (0)1-640 3133
Email: leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie
Tweet to: http://www.twitter.com/@LeoVaradkar
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeoVaradkar
Sign and share our petitions
Ban Blood Sports in Ireland Now
https://www.change.org/petitions/ban-blood-sports-in-ireland
Ireland - Ban cruel hare coursing
www.change.org/p/ireland-ban-cruel-hare-coursing
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
Stop supporting the cruel greyhound industry
https://www.change.org/p/stop-supporting-the-cruel-greyhound-industry
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
Ex-shooter reveals the cruelty of pheasant shooting
https://www.facebook.com/banbloodsports/videos/569637200497210/
Game hunters up in arms over restriction on activities
RTE News, 2 Nov 2020
https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2020/1102/1175490-pheasant-shooting-restrictions/
Please support our campaign with a donation
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