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Green Party TDs and Ministers refuse to sign a "Ban Hare Coursing" petition at party conference. If the long-suffering hare can’t rely on the Green Party - once its loudest champion - then what chance does it have? Read John Fitzgerald's Letter in the Irish Daily Mail...
Greens' great betrayal
Letter, Irish Daily Mail: 25th October 2023
On the fringes of last weekend's Green Party conference, there was a stall at which people could sign a petition calling for a ban on hare coursing. Given that the party has an official policy of opposition to the blood sport it might be considered a foregone conclusion that most or all of the delegates would add their signatures to this latest plea on behalf on our embattled Irish Hare.
Not so, it turned out. While many of the rank-and-file members signed, the ministers and TDs didn't. While compromise is necessary in any coalition government there are also red-line issues for every party. For the Greens these must surely include the commitment to ending a form of organised animal cruelty that had no place in the 17th century, let alone the 21st.
Right now, we are into another coursing season. Each weekend, hares that have been cruelly snatched from their homes in the countryside are forced to run from hyped-up dogs.
Reeling from the effects of climate change and habitat loss, this iconic creature must perform in hail, rain and snow for people who enjoy watching an animal fighting for its life. A small but politically well-connected minority is permitted to play Russian roulette with a unique native species that has been on this island for eons of time but has been in steady decline for the past half-century.
If the long-suffering hare can’t rely on the Green Party - once its loudest champion and cheerleader - for support, then what chance does it have?
John Fitzgerald,
Callan, Co. Kilkenny
SEE ALSO
“Ban Hare Coursing” stand at Green Party conference
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2023/10/21/ban-hare-coursing-stand-at-green-party-conference/
ACTION ALERT
Urge the Green Party to respect the wishes of the 77% majority who want coursing banned and pledge support for Paul Murphy TD’s bill which aims to outlaw the cruel bloodsport. The bill is expected back before the Dail in the coming months.
View the Green Party’s Animal Welfare Policy document
https://greenparty.ie/policies/animal-welfare
Contact Green Party TDs NOW
Email addresses for all 12 Green Party TDs:
Eamon.Ryan@greenparty.ie; catherine.martin@oireachtas.ie; patrick.costello@oireachtas.ie; francisnoel.duffy@oireachtas.ie; neasa.hourigan@oireachtas.ie; brian.leddin@oireachtas.ie; steven.matthews@oireachtas.ie; malcolm.noonan@oireachtas.ie; joe.obrien@oireachtas.ie; marc.ocathasaigh@oireachtas.ie; roderic.ogorman@oireachtas.ie
ossian.smyth@greenparty.ie
Eamon Ryan TD (Dublin Bay South)
Leader, Green Party
Tel: 01 618 3894
Email: eamon.ryan@oireachtas.ie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EamonRyanGP/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EamonRyan
Catherine Martin TD (Dublin Rathdown)
Green Party Deputy Leader and Minister for Culture and Heritage
Tel: (01) 618 3018
Email: catherine.martin@oireachtas.ie
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Catherinemartingreen/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/cathmartingreen
Malcolm Noonan TD (Carlow Kilkenny)
Heritage Minister
Tel: (01) 6183148
Email: malcolm.noonan@oireachtas.ie; mos@housing.gov.ie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/votemalcolmnoonan1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/noonan_malcolm
Neasa Hourigan TD (Dublin Central)
Tel: (01) 618 3172
Email: neasa.hourigan@oireachtas.ie
Twitter: @neasa_neasa
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/neasahourigangreen/
Joe O’Brien TD (Dublin Fingal)
Tel: 01 618 4114
Email: joe.obrien@oireachtas.ie
Twitter: @joefingalgreen
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joefingalgreen/
Patrick Costello TD (Dublin South Central)
Tel: (01) 618 3566
Email: patrick.costello@oireachtas.ie
Twitter: @Costellop
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patrickcostellogreenparty
Francis Noel Duffy TD (Dublin South West)
Tel: (01) 618 4236
Email: francisnoel.duffy@oireachtas.ie
Twitter: @FNDuffy
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FrancisNoelDuffy/
Roderic O’Gorman TD (Dublin West)
Tel: (01) 618 3222
Email: roderic.ogorman@oireachtas.ie
Twitter: @rodericogorman
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RodericOG/
Ossian Smyth TD (Dún Laoghaire)
Tel: (01) 618 3362
Email: ossian.smyth@greenparty.ie
Twitter: @smytho
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smythossian/
Brian Leddin TD (Limerick City)
Tel: (01) 618 3205
Email: brian.leddin@oireachtas.ie
Twitter: @BrianLeddin
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Leddin4Limerick/
Marc O’Cathasaigh TD (Waterford)
Tel: (01) 618 3223
Email: marc.ocathasaigh@oireachtas.ie
Twitter: @MarcKC_Green
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ocathasaighmarc
Steven Matthews TD (Wicklow)
Tel: (01) 6183513
Email: steven.matthews@oireachtas.ie
Twitter: @stevensgreen1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stevenmatthewsgreenparty/
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