Foxes will continue to suffer and die in cruel foxhunting in Northern Ireland after 25 Sinn Féin MLAs voted against a bill which aimed to ban the bloodsport.

In the Northern Ireland Assembly on Monday (6 December 2021), John Blair MLA’s “Hunting of Wild Mammals Bill” was narrowly defeated with 45 voting against it and 38 voting in favour. The bill aimed to outlaw not only foxhunting but all forms of hunting wild animals with dogs, including deer hunting, hare hunting and terrierwork.

Along with the 25 Sinn Fein MLAs, 19 Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) MLAs and Jim Allister MLA (Traditional Unionist Voice) shamefully rejected the anti-bloodsports bill.

Sinn Fein’s vote against the bill came despite an assurance from party president Mary Lou McDonald TD in February 2020 that “Sinn Fein is opposed to foxhunting”.

In her email to ICABS, Deputy McDonald added: “We will vote in favour of a ban at the next opportunity.”

Ahead of the vote, Sinn Fein MLAs were reminded of her statement.

Thank you to the MLAs who voted in favour of the bill. They were from the Alliance Party (7), Ulster Unionist Party (9), Green Party (2), SDLP (10), People Before Profit Alliance (1) and Independents (3).

Members of the DUP party were allowed a conscience vote so while 19 voted against the bill, another 6 were free to vote in favour of the bill. But it wasn’t enough and the bill was defeated.

In email appeals to MLAs to support the bill, ICABS had pointed out that a ban on hunting with hounds would be widely welcomed. We highlighted that a Survation opinion poll commissioned by the League Against Cruel Sports found that 83% want deer hunting with dogs banned and 76% want fox hunting and hare hunting banned.

“These activities involve horrendous animal cruelty - the deer, foxes and hares are chased by dogs and attacked and brutally killed when caught,” we stated. “Considering the cruelty involved and the fact that a clear majority want these bloodsports outlawed, we hope that you and your party will give full backing to the bill.”

Scroll down to find out the names of those who voted for and against the bill.

ACTION ALERT

Contact Mary Lou McDonald TD and ask why, despite an assurance that her party is “opposed to foxhunting” and would “vote in favour of a ban at the next opportunity”, Sinn Fein MLAs voted against the bill.

Mary Lou McDonald TD
President, Sinn Fein
Tel: (01) 727 7102
Email: marylou.mcdonald@oireachtas.ie
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaryLouMcDonald
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MaryLouMcDonaldTD

Sinn Féin Head Office
44 Cearnóg Pharnell
Dublin 1, Ireland
Phone: 01 8726100
Email: admin@sinnfein.ie

HOW THEY VOTED
Voted against the bill: 45
Voted in favour of the bill: 38

SINN FÉIN
Voted against the bill (25)

Caoimhe Archibald MLA, Sinn Féin
Cathal Boylan MLA, Sinn Féin
Nicola Brogan MLA, Sinn Féin
Pádraig Delargy MLA, Sinn Féin
Linda Dillon MLA, Sinn Féin
Jemma Dolan MLA, Sinn Féin
Sinéad Ennis MLA, Sinn Féin
Ciara Ferguson MLA, Sinn Féin
Órlaithí Flynn MLA, Sinn Féin
Colm Gildernew MLA, Sinn Féin
Deirdre Hargey MLA, Sinn Féin
Declan Kearney MLA, Sinn Féin
Gerry Kelly MLA, Sinn Féin
Liz Kimmins MLA, Sinn Féin
Philip McGuigan MLA, Sinn Féin
Maolíosa McHugh MLA, Sinn Féin
Áine Murphy MLA, Sinn Féin
Conor Murphy MLA, Sinn Féin
Carál Ní Chuilín MLA, Sinn Féin
John O'Dowd MLA, Sinn Féin
Michelle O'Neill MLA, Sinn Féin
Aisling Reilly MLA, Sinn Féin
Emma Rogan MLA, Sinn Féin
Pat Sheehan MLA, Sinn Féin
Emma Sheerin MLA, Sinn Féin

TRADITIONAL UNIONIST VOICE
Voted against the bill (1)

Jim Allister MLA, Traditional Unionist Voice

DEMOCRATIC UNIONIST PARTY (DUP)
Voted in favour of the bill (6)
Voted against the bill (19)

Voted in favour of the bill

Paula Bradley MLA, Democratic Unionist Party
Joanne Bunting MLA, Democratic Unionist Party
Pam Cameron MLA, Democratic Unionist Party
Christopher Stalford MLA, Democratic Unionist Party
Peter Weir MLA, Democratic Unionist Party
Jim Wells MLA, Democratic Unionist Party

Voted against the bill

Maurice Bradley MLA, Democratic Unionist Party
Keith Buchanan MLA, Democratic Unionist Party
Thomas Buchanan MLA, Democratic Unionist Party
Jonathan Buckley MLA, Democratic Unionist Party
Trevor Clarke MLA, Democratic Unionist Party
Diane Dodds MLA, Democratic Unionist Party
Stephen Dunne MLA, Democratic Unionist Party
Paul Frew MLA, Democratic Unionist Party
Paul Givan MLA, Democratic Unionist Party
Harry Harvey MLA, Democratic Unionist Party
David Hilditch MLA, Democratic Unionist Party
William Humphrey MLA, Democratic Unionist Party
William Irwin MLA, Democratic Unionist Party
Gordon Lyons MLA, Democratic Unionist Party
Michelle McIlveen MLA, Democratic Unionist Party
Gary Middleton MLA, Democratic Unionist Party
Edwin Poots MLA, Democratic Unionist Party
George Robinson MLA, Democratic Unionist Party
Mervyn Storey MLA, Democratic Unionist Party

ALLIANCE PARTY
Voted in favour of the bill (7)

Kellie Armstrong MLA, Alliance Party
John Blair MLA, Alliance Party
Paula Bradshaw MLA, Alliance Party
Stewart Dickson MLA, Alliance Party
Naomi Long MLA, Alliance Party
Chris Lyttle MLA, Alliance Party
Andrew Muir MLA, Alliance Party

ULSTER UNIONIST PARTY
Voted in favour of the bill (9)

Steve Aiken MLA, Ulster Unionist Party
Andy Allen MLA, Ulster Unionist Party
Rosemary Barton MLA, Ulster Unionist Party
Doug Beattie MLA, Ulster Unionist Party
Robbie Butler MLA, Ulster Unionist Party
Alan Chambers MLA, Ulster Unionist Party
Mike Nesbitt MLA, Ulster Unionist Party
John Stewart MLA, Ulster Unionist Party
Robin Swann MLA, Ulster Unionist Party

GREEN PARTY
Voted in favour of the bill (2)

Clare Bailey MLA, Green Party
Rachel Woods MLA, Green Party

SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC AND LABOUR PARTY (SDLP)
Voted in favour of the bill (10)

Sinéad Bradley MLA, SDLP
Pat Catney MLA, SDLP
Mark Durkan MLA, SDLP
Cara Hunter MLA, SDLP
Dolores Kelly MLA, SDLP
Daniel McCrossan MLA, SDLP
Patsy McGlone MLA, SDLP
Colin McGrath MLA, SDLP
Justin McNulty MLA, SDLP
Matthew O'Toole MLA, SDLP

PEOPLE BEFORE PROFIT ALLIANCE
Voted in favour of the bill (1)

Gerry Carroll MLA, People Before Profit Alliance

INDEPENDENTS
Voted in favour of the bill (3)

Alex Easton MLA, Independent
Trevor Lunn MLA, Independent
Claire Sugden MLA, Independent

SEE ALSO: Proposed ban on hunting with dogs defeated in Northern Ireland Assembly https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/mlas-vote-against-proposed-ban-on-hunting-with-dogs-in-northern-ireland-1224625.html