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They "talk the talk but fail to walk the walk": Alliance Party leader Naomi Long MLA has criticised Sinn Fein for voting against a ban on fox hunting in Northern Ireland, despite an assurance in 2020 from party president Mary Lou McDonald TD that the party would vote in favour of a ban at the next opportunity.
Speaking at the Alliance Party’s annual conference in South Belfast on 5 March 2022, Naomi Long MLA, who is the Northern Ireland Justice Minister, referred to party colleague John Blair MLA’s bill to outlaw hunting animals with dogs which was narrowly defeated in the Northern Ireland Assembly in December 2021. 25 Sinn Fein MLAs, 19 of the DUP's MLAs and Jim Allister MLA (TUV) shamefully voted against the bill.
“John Blair’s bill to ban hunting of mammals with dogs was voted down by Sinn Fein supported by some in the DUP,” Naomi Long stated in her speech. “Despite Mary Lou McDonald telling animal welfare organisations in the south that when the next opportunity arose, Sinn Fein would vote for a hunting ban, instead [they blocked] it on a Second Reading. John’s Bill failing is a good illustration of two things – it shows us what happens when other parties who talk the talk but fail to walk the walk have majority; more importantly, it shows us the difference that more Alliance MLAs would make.”
“Just four more Alliance MLAs would have delivered the Hunting Ban in Northern Ireland,” she added. “Let’s make sure we’re back in the next mandate, with those extra MLAs, to finish the job.”
The Assembly election takes place on Thursday, 5 May 2022. Find out more about the views of election candidates and animal cruelty issues at https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2022/02/10/northern-ireland-politicians-and-animal-cruelty-issues/
Find out more about the Alliance Party at
https://www.allianceparty.org/
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 and Councillors have failed to back a ban.
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
Urge the DUP to back a ban on hunting with hounds.
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP
Leader, DUP
Tel: 028 9266 8001
Email jeffreydonaldsonmp@laganvalley.net
Twitter @J_Donaldson_MP
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/jeffrey.donaldson1/
DUP Headquarters
Tel: 028 9047 1155
Email: info@mydup.com