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“While vociferously peddling eco-friendly initiatives of one kind or another, the three-party Coalition is implicated in an unconscionable attack on our wildlife heritage” - Read John Fitzgerald's Letter in the Irish Independent and please scroll down for action alert...
‘Eco-friendly’ Coalition are hypocrites on hare coursing
Letter to the Editor, Irish Independent, 29 May 2023
During Biodiversity Week there were many worthy ventures to uphold the wellbeing of our precious and vulnerable eco-systems, with communities nationwide rowing in behind what might be our last chance to preserve our increasingly threatened flora and fauna.
But my favourite gesture was Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore’s tabling of a bill to end the capture of hares for coursing. Conservationists deem our native hare to be the “flagship” of Irish biodiversity, a mammal to be treasured as one of our few truly indigenous species. It has been on this island since before the last ice age 10,000 years ago and possibly for a time before that.
Ms Whitmore’s bill highlights a contradiction at the heart of the Government’s much-trumpeted push to promote our duty of care to nature. While vociferously peddling eco-friendly initiatives of one kind or another, the three-party Coalition is implicated in an unconscionable attack on our wildlife heritage.
It permits, via annual licences, the snatching of thousands of hares each year to be used as bait in a silly game. The supposedly “protected” animals are driven to venues where pairs of dogs are set on them. Gamblers mark their betting cards as the disorientated wild creatures, unaccustomed to captivity, zigzag frantically in a bid to avoid death or a severe mauling.
Ms Whitmore’s bill will undoubtedly be resisted by the powerful pro-coursing lobby. But maybe, some day, our leaders will heed the voice of compassion.
As the late Des O’Malley said in relation to a completely different issue, it’s time to “let the hare sit”.
John Fitzgerald
Callan, Co Kilkenny
URGENT ACTION ALERT
HELP THE HARES: Urgently contact Heritage Minister Darragh O’Brien and Minister of State Malcolm Noonan. Email "Please refuse a 2023-24 licence for cruel hare coursing" to: minister@housing.gov.ie; mos@housing.gov.ie
Minister Darragh O’Brien (Fianna Fail, Dublin Fingal)
Tel: (01) 618 3802 OR (086) 251 9893
Email: minister@housing.gov.ie; darragh.obrien@oireachtas.ie
Malcolm Noonan TD (Green Party, Carlow Kilkenny)
Minister of State for Heritage
Tel: (01) 618 3148 OR (01) 618 3156
Email: mos@housing.gov.ie; malcolm.noonan@oireachtas.ie
With a RED C opinion poll confirming that a 77 per cent majority of citizens want hare coursing banned (with just 9% disagreeing with a ban), it is now time for politicians to consign this nasty bloodsport to history. Join us in contacting all TDs and urging them to act to ensure that a ban is urgently introduced. Visit the Oireachtas website for contact details for TDs https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/tds/?term=/ie/oireachtas/house/dail/33
Tell the leaders of Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and the Green Party to respect the wishes of the majority and ban hare coursing and all bloodsports.
Micheál Martin TD
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
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michealmartintd/
Leo Varadkar TD
Leader, Fine Gael
Telephone: 01-619 4020
Email: leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
Tweet to: http://www.twitter.com/@LeoVaradkar
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeoVaradkar
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leovaradkar/
Eamon Ryan TD
Leader, Green Party
Tel: 01 618 3894
Email: eamon.ryan@oireachtas.ie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EamonRyanGP/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EamonRyan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eamondryan/
Please sign and share the petitions
Sinn Fein: Support a ban on cruel hare coursing
https://www.change.org/p/sinn-fein-support-a-ban-on-cruel-hare-coursing
Please support our campaign with a donation
https://www.paypal.me/banbloodsports
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Witness the cruelty of hare coursing in Ireland
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gkr014Y0KR0