Why don’t you lead on this issue of public concern? Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald TD was challenged on her party’s pro-hunting position during an interview on RTE Radio 1’s This Week programme today (22 February 2026).
Despite majority public support for a ban on cruel fox hunting, 35 Sinn Fein TDs shamefully voted against Ruth Coppinger TD’s Animal Health & Welfare (Ban On Fox Hunting) Bill 2025 in December.
“You asserted that it was the party’s Ard Fheis which decides on such policy - why don’t you choose to lead on something like that?” programme presenter Paul Cunningham asked her. “Whatever the Ard Fheis decides is up to the Ard Fheis but you, as the leader, are able to take a position on something of public concern.”
Responding, Mary Lou McDonald TD stated: “This debate around fox hunting is one, I know, is very significant for many people, including members of Sinn Fein. The issue has been debated at Ard Fheiseanna. A policy position is agreed and I am the leader of Sinn Fein, our political party. I lead our activists and our membership base who in turn represent people in communities all across the country who have various views on this issue. Sinn Fein policy is set democratically at the Ard Fheis.”
In voting against a ban on fox hunting, Sinn Fein ignored prevailing public opinion and did NOT represent the views of the vast majority of Irish citizens.
The latest Ireland Thinks opinion poll (conducted in November 2025) shows that 87% are opposed to the hunting of animals for sport. 81% of respondents to the poll who expressed an opinion, agree that fox hunting as a sport should be banned in Ireland. The poll found that just 13% of people in Ireland are in favour of hunting animals for sport, including a mere 3% "strongly in favour".
In December, before the Dail voted on the bill to ban fox hunting, Deputy McDonald was reminded that at Sinn Fein's 2023 Ard Fheis, a motion in support of a ban on fox hunting was effectively sidelined by a counter motion, presented by the Sinn Fein Ard Comhairle, which proposed regulation of cruel hare coursing and fox hunting - instead of bans. When the latter motion was passed, the other motion fell and was not voted on.
Join us in urging Sinn Fein TDs to present and/or vote in favour of a “Sinn Fein supports a complete ban on fox hunting” motion at the party’s upcoming Ard Fheis.
ACTION ALERT
Contact Mary Lou McDonald TD and urge her and Sinn Fein to update the party's animal welfare policies to support a ban on fox hunting and hare coursing at the next Ard Fheis.
Mary Lou McDonald TD
Leader, Sinn Fein
Tel: (01) 727 7102
Email: marylou.mcdonald@oireachtas.ie; admin@sinnfein.ie
X: https://x.com/MaryLouMcDonald
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaryLouMcDo
Email Sinn Fein TDs and tell them that you want fox hunting, hare coursing and all bloodsports banned.
john.brady@oireachtas.ie; pat.buckley@oireachtas.ie; matt.carthy@oireachtas.ie; sorca.clarke@oireachtas.ie; rose.conwaywalsh@oireachtas.ie; reada.cronin@oireachtas.ie; Sean.Crowe@oireachtas.ie; david.cullinane@oireachtas.ie; pa.daly@oireachtas.ie; maire.devine@oireachtas.ie; Pearse.Doherty@oireachtas.ie; paul.donnelly@oireachtas.ie; dessie.ellis@oireachtas.ie; thomas.gould@oireachtas.ie; ann.graves@oireachtas.ie; johnny.guirke@oireachtas.ie; martin.kenny@oireachtas.ie; claire.kerrane@oireachtas.ie; padraig.maclochlainn@oir.ie; conor.mcguinness@oireachtas.ie; denise.mitchell@oireachtas.ie; johnny.mythen@oireachtas.ie; shonagh.niraghallaigh@oireachtas.ie; eoin.obroin@oireachtas.ie; donnchadh.olaoghaire@oireachtas.ie; ruairi.omurchu@oireachtas.ie; aengus.osnodaigh@oireachtas.ie; fionntan.osuilleabhain@oireachtas.ie; louis.ohara@oireachtas.ie; louise.oreilly@oireachtas.ie; darren.orourke@oireachtas.ie; maurice.quinlivan@oireachtas.ie; mark.ward@oireachtas.ie; cathy.bennett@oireachtas.ie; joanna.byrne@oireachtas.ie; donna.mcgettigan@oireachtas.ie; natasha.newsomedrennan@oireachtas.ie
SEE ALSO
“Ban Fox Hunting” bill shamefully voted down in Dail Eireann – how did your TDs vote?
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2025/12/18/ban-fox-hunting-bill-shamefully-voted-down-in-dail-eireann-how-did-your-tds-vote/
Join calls on Sinn Fein to back a ban on cruel fox hunting
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2025/06/26/join-calls-on-sinn-fein-to-back-a-ban-on-cruel-fox-hunting/
“Sinn Féin is opposed to foxhunting” and will “vote in favour of a ban” (2020)
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2020/02/04/sinn-fein-is-opposed-to-foxhunting-and-will-vote-in-favour-of-a-ban/
Sinn Fein wants cruel fox hunting “regulated”, not banned
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2025/11/29/sinn-fein-wants-cruel-fox-hunting-regulated-not-banned/
Hare coursing and fox hunting discussed at Sinn Fein Ard Fheis in Athlone (10 Nov 2023). A Sinn Fein Ard Comhairle motion (number 62) proposing regulation of cruel hare coursing and fox hunting - instead of bans - was shamefully passed.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=315779794562781