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“I admire, as an animal protection campaigner, the Social Democrats' steadfast opposition to the barbarism of live hare coursing and the scandal whereby State funding props up a cruel greyhound industry that is unfit for purpose and in terminal decline” - Read John Fitzgerald's Letter to the Editor in the Irish Daily Mail and please scroll down for action alert...
Soc Dems race out of the traps on cruelty
Letter to the Editor, The Irish Daily Mail, March 6th 2023
Other parties that promised to “break the mould in Irish politics” have come and gone, but I sincerely hope that the Social Democrats succeed.
While the party will be scrutinised on all its policies and its overall performance in the Oireachtas and at county council level I especially admire, as an animal protection campaigner, its steadfast opposition to the barbarism of live hare coursing and the scandal whereby State funding props up a cruel greyhound industry that is unfit for purpose and in terminal decline.
Holly Cairns has brilliantly articulated why not a cent of our money should go to an industry long past its sell-by date.
The industry has far too many questions to answer about the fate of dogs that no longer make the grade or have outlived their value as racers...and the shocking cases of greyhounds turning up in shallow graves after being shot and dumped, or exported to dodgy jurisdictions where animal welfare is practically non-existent.
Her fellow TD Jennifer Whitmore has similarly shone a light on the indefensible practice of capturing timid little hares in our countryside and setting dogs on them for fun - another sordid feature of the greyhound industry.
The big parties have shamefully facilitated these activities against the wishes of the majority of Irish people who, according to polls, favour an end to coursing, and to see the industry defunded. Time after time they’ve blocked proposed laws aimed at protecting animals from such ill-treatment in the name of “sport.”
I hope that the Social Democrats, under Holly Cairns, will prove crucial in allowing hares to run free in the countryside as nature intended, and greyhounds to live out their short lives in the garden or on the couch, instead of languishing in a chamber of horrors.
Politics aside, if the Social Democrats can achieve this, every animal lover in Ireland will be having a party!
John Fitzgerald,
Callan, Co. Kilkenny
Find out more about the Social Democrats at
https://www.socialdemocrats.ie/
Videos
“SCANDALOUS”: Holly Cairns TD condemns government's funding of cruel greyhound racing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6as7sBdMBAQ
"Greyhound racing is in terminal decline" - Holly Cairns TD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NS3YDeJKAPg
Jennifer Whitmore TD asks Heritage Minister 5 times to suspend licensing of cruel coursing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TduwlllMpdU
Jennifer Whitmore TD: Urgent need to tackle gorse fires
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZId6vukutTA
Jennifer Whitmore TD: Motion to phase out state funding for cruel greyhound racing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6XoK1VrWqU
ACTION ALERT
Demand a ban on cruel hare coursing and an end to the government’s massive grants to horse and greyhound racing – more than a €1.6 Billion handed over since 2001, including €91 million for 2023. Contact the Taoiseach and Tánaiste now.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TD
Telephone: +353 (0)1-704 3630 OR +353 (0)1-640 3133
Email: leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
Tweet to: http://www.twitter.com/@LeoVaradkar
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeoVaradkar
Tanaiste Micheál Martin TD
Email: micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie; info@fiannafail.ie
Phone: +353 (0)1–618 4350 or +353 (0)21-432 0088
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD