Sinn Fein will have an opportunity this month to update its animal welfare policies to support a ban on fox hunting, a cruel bloodsport that the vast majority of people in Ireland want ended.
On Day 1 of the party’s Ard Fheis - which takes place at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast on April 24-25 - two fox hunting related motions will be presented.
Motion 28 calls on party delegates to support the continuation of fox hunting, ie that it is "regulated" but not banned.
Motion 29 calls on the party to “support a ban on the practice of fox hunting with dogs for the sole purpose of leisure”, stating that "the hunting of foxes using dogs for the sole purpose of leisure is unavoidably cruel and by necessity inflicts terror, exhaustion, irrevocable injury, and death on the foxes involved".
See below for the full wording of each motion.
If delegates vote in favour of Motion 28, the following "ban fox hunting" motion (29) will automatically fail.
If motion 28 is rejected, a vote will then be taken on motion 29. If enough delegates vote in favour of motion 29, the party commits to “support a ban on the practice of fox hunting with dogs for the sole purpose of leisure”.
Please join us in urging Sinn Fein TDs and other party representatives to REJECT MOTION 28 and SUPPORT MOTION 29. The time has come for Sinn Fein to finally reflect public opinion and support a ban on this cruel, colonial bloodsport.
WORDING OF MOTIONS 28 AND 29
Motion 28:
This Ard Fheis:
Acknowledges the existence of traditional rural occupations such as hunting;
Notes that hunting in Ireland dates back thousands of years with Irish Mythology and examples such as Cu Chulainn the "Hound of Ulster" being defined by their hunting roles in Celtic lore;
Recognises that there is a balance to be struck acknowledging the cultural, historical and societal importance of hunting and the need to have strong animal welfare standards;
Recalls the consultation with the party membership and structures on this topic undertaken in 2022 which found that approximately one third support a ban with two thirds supporting some form of regulation;
Notes that these type of issues have been successfully used to create a wedge between rural communities and left-wing parties all over the world, commends Sinn Féin for its efforts to strike the right balance by supporting and promoting alternatives to activities such as Fox Hunting while not endorsing wholesale bans which would alienate many rural supporters;
Commends the party, especially our rural representatives, who have articulated positions supporting rural communities, including farming and rural organisation, that have ensured that Sinn Féin is considered a credible, progressive alternative to Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael across the regions;
Calls on Sinn Féin to maintain its sensible, pragmatic approach to these issues and to continue building party support so that we can deliver a government that will finally end the neglect of rural communities;
Believes that outright bans on fox hunting could have implications for biodiversity and protections for livestock and wildlife but agrees that such practices and pursuits should be strongly regulated, including limitations on the type of hunting permitted, and that alternatives such as drag hunting should be promoted and incentivised;
Calls for Sinn Féin to campaign for relevant Departments within the Executive and the Oireachtas to convene a Commission of experts and/or citizens assembly to allow all voices be heard in this debate. These experts must include rural pursuits organisations along with animal welfare groups;
Believes that this Assembly can examine and recommend appropriate policy responses regarding these rural pursuits.
Motion 29:
That this Ard Fheis Recognises;
Sinn Féin's unwavering support for rural culture and traditions, the right of farmers to defend their livestock from predators such as foxes and dogs, and the need to protect hunting and fishing activities for the purpose of obtaining food or managing species populations;
The economic social and cultural importance of sports involving animals to the Irish nation as a whole, and that regulation can and does ensure the welfare of the animals in the vast majority of these sports;
Accepts;
That the hunting of foxes using dogs for the sole purpose of leisure is unavoidably cruel and by necessity inflicts terror, exhaustion, irrevocable injury, and death on the foxes involved;
That fox hunting is a legacy of British colonial rule and causes damage to crops and livestock of farmers whose land faces are trespassed by large numbers of horses and dogs;
The consistent evidence that fox hunting is rejected by the vast majority of people living in rural Ireland, with 74% of rural dwellers opposing fox hunting in a 2019 poll by Red C, and similar support for a ban across the Connacht-Ulster region of the 26 Counties (73%), Leinster (71%) and Munster (69%) in a 2025 survey by Ireland Thinks;
Commits;
To support a ban on the practice of fox hunting with dogs for the sole purpose of leisure, and mandates the party to engage with rural communities to ensure that such a ban is introduced in a way that does not unduly impact rural life.
ACTION ALERT
Please contact Sinn Fein TDs now and urge them to reject motion 28 and vote in favour of motion 29.
Natasha Newsome Drennan TD (Sinn Fein, Carlow Kilkenny) - Email: natasha.newsomedrennan@oireachtas.ie Tel: (01) 618 4141
Cathy Bennett TD (Sinn Fein, Cavan Monaghan) - Email: cathy.bennett@oireachtas.ie Tel: (01) 618 4192
Matt Carthy TD (Sinn Fein, Cavan Monaghan) - Email: matt.carthy@oireachtas.ie Tel: (01) 6183473 / (042) 9674001
Donna McGettigan TD (Sinn Fein, Clare) - Email: donna.mcgettigan@oireachtas.ie Tel: (01) 618 4121
Pat Buckley TD (Sinn Fein, Cork East) - Email: pat.buckley@oireachtas.ie Tel: (01) 618 3062 / (021) 4639551
Thomas Gould TD (Sinn Fein, Cork North Central) - Email: thomas.gould@oireachtas.ie Tel: (01) 618 3513 / (021) 421 2233
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire TD (Sinn Fein, Cork South Central) - Email: donnchadh.olaoghaire@oireachtas.ie Tel: (01) 618 3097 / (021) 431 6555
Pearse Doherty TD (Sinn Fein, Donegal) - Email: Pearse.Doherty@oireachtas.ie Tel: (01) 618 3960 / (074) 953 2832
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn TD (Sinn Fein, Donegal) - Email: padraig.maclochlainn@oireachtas.ie Tel: (01) 618 4061 / (074) 960 1730
Denise Mitchell TD (Sinn Fein, Dublin Bay North) - Email: denise.mitchell@oireachtas.ie Tel: (01) 618 3457 / (01) 847 2902
Mary Lou McDonald TD (Sinn Fein, Dublin Central) - Email: MaryLou.McDonald@oireachtas.ie Tel: (01) 727 7102 / (01) 618 3230 / (01) 868 3934
Louise O'Reilly TD (Sinn Fein, Dublin Fingal West) - Email: louise.oreilly@oireachtas.ie Tel: (01) 618 3093 / (01) 840 5081
Eoin Ó Broin TD (Sinn Fein, Dublin Mid West) - Email: eoin.obroin@oireachtas.ie Tel: (01) 618 3080 / (01) 621 8653
Mark Ward TD (Sinn Fein, Dublin Mid West) - Email: mark.ward@oireachtas.ie Tel: (01) 618 3381
Dessie Ellis TD (Sinn Fein, Dublin North West) - Email: dessie.ellis@oireachtas.ie Tel: (01) 834 7674 / (01) 618 3006
Máire Devine TD (Sinn Fein, Dublin South Central) - Email: maire.devine@oireachtas.ie Tel: (01) 618 4218
Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD (Sinn Fein, Dublin South Central) - Email: aengus.osnodaigh@oireachtas.ie Tel: (01) 625 9320 / (01) 618 4084
Sean Crowe TD (Sinn Fein, Dublin South West) - Email: Sean.Crowe@oireachtas.ie Tel: (01) 451 9160 / (01) 618 3941
Paul Donnelly TD (Sinn Fein, Dublin West) - Email: paul.donnelly@oireachtas.ie Tel: (01) 6183371
Louis O’Hara TD (Sinn Fein, Galway East) - Email: louis.ohara@oireachtas.ie Tel: (01) 618 3752 / (083) 426 2455
Mairéad Farrell TD (Sinn Fein, Galway West) - Email: mairead.farrell@oireachtas.ie Tel: (01) 618 3132
Pa Daly TD (Sinn Fein, Kerry County) - Email: pa.daly@oireachtas.ie Tel: (01) 6183779 / (066) 712 9545
Maurice Quinlivan TD (Sinn Fein, Limerick City) - Email: maurice.quinlivan@oireachtas.ie Tel: (01) 618 3620 / (061) 319 681
Sorca Clarke TD (Sinn Fein, Longford Westmeath) - Email: sorca.clarke@oireachtas.ie Tel: (01) 6183455
Joanna Byrne TD (Sinn Fein, Louth) - Email: joanna.byrne@oireachtas.ie Tel: (01) 618 4034 / (041) 983 0287
Ruairi Ó Murchú TD (Sinn Fein, Louth) - Email: ruairi.omurchu@oireachtas.ie Tel: (01) 618 4060
Rose Conway-Walsh TD (Sinn Fein, Mayo) - Email: rose.conwaywalsh@oireachtas.ie Tel: (01) 618 3664
Darren O’Rourke TD (Sinn Fein, Meath East) - Email: darren.orourke@oireachtas.ie Tel: (01) 618 4504 / (01) 849 9573
Johnny Guirke TD (Sinn Fein, Meath West) - Email: johnny.guirke@oireachtas.ie Tel: (01) 618 4502
Claire Kerrane TD (Sinn Fein, Roscommon Galway) - Email: claire.kerrane@oireachtas.ie Tel: (01) 618 4665 / (094) 986 1688
Martin Kenny TD (Sinn Fein, Sligo Leitrim) - Email: martin.kenny@oireachtas.ie Tel: (01) 618 3865 / (071) 962 0000
David Cullinane TD (Sinn Fein, Waterford) - Email: david.cullinane@oireachtas.ie Tel: (01) 618 4960 / (051) 856 066
Conor McGuinness TD (Sinn Fein, Waterford) - Email: conor.mcguinness@oireachtas.ie Tel: (01) 618 4634
Johnny Mythen TD (Sinn Fein, Wexford) - Email: johnny.mythen@oireachtas.ie Tel: (01) 618 3911
John Brady TD (Sinn Fein, Wicklow) - Email: john.brady@oireachtas.ie Tel: (01) 276 2623
Fionntán O Súillebháin TD (Sinn Fein, Wicklow-Wexford) - Email: fionntan.osuilleabhain@oireachtas.ie Tel: (01) 618 3890
Email Sinn Fein TDs
natasha.newsomedrennan@oireachtas.ie; cathy.bennett@oireachtas.ie; matt.carthy@oireachtas.ie; donna.mcgettigan@oireachtas.ie; pat.buckley@oireachtas.ie; thomas.gould@oireachtas.ie; donnchadh.olaoghaire@oireachtas.ie; Pearse.Doherty@oireachtas.ie; padraig.maclochlainn@oireachtas.ie; denise.mitchell@oireachtas.ie; MaryLou.McDonald@oireachtas.ie; louise.oreilly@oireachtas.ie; eoin.obroin@oireachtas.ie; mark.ward@oireachtas.ie; dessie.ellis@oireachtas.ie; maire.devine@oireachtas.ie; aengus.osnodaigh@oireachtas.ie; Sean.Crowe@oireachtas.ie; paul.donnelly@oireachtas.ie; louis.ohara@oireachtas.ie; mairead.farrell@oireachtas.ie; pa.daly@oireachtas.ie; maurice.quinlivan@oireachtas.ie; sorca.clarke@oireachtas.ie; joanna.byrne@oireachtas.ie; ruairi.omurchu@oireachtas.ie; rose.conwaywalsh@oireachtas.ie; darren.orourke@oireachtas.ie; johnny.guirke@oireachtas.ie; claire.kerrane@oireachtas.ie; martin.kenny@oireachtas.ie; david.cullinane@oireachtas.ie; conor.mcguinness@oireachtas.ie; johnny.mythen@oireachtas.ie; john.brady@oireachtas.ie; fionntan.osuilleabhain@oireachtas.ie
Email Sinn Fein Cllrs - Republic of Ireland
Cllr.Deirdre.Ferris@kerrycoco.ie; Angela.Donnelly@cllrs.fingal.ie; Breda.Hanaphy@cllrs.fingal.ie; wcarey@cllrs.sdublincoco.ie; anthony.connaghan@dublincity.ie; daithi.doolan@dublincity.ie; mmacdonncha@gmail.com; seamas.mcgrattan@dublincity.ie; cllrjbailey@waterfordcouncil.ie; tom.barrysf@gmail.com; brendan.barry1@yahoo.com; sharon.benson@limerick.ie; fionnan.blake@members.meathcoco.ie; janice.boylan@dublincity.ie; damienbrady@cavancoco.ie; cllr.robert.brosnan@kerrycoco.ie; cllrcburke@waterfordcouncil.ie; Aisling.burke@cgcc.ie; peter.caffrey@members.meathcoco.ie; briancarr@donegalcoco.ie; colm.carthy@cllr.monaghancoco.ie; kenneth_collins@corkcity.ie; sconaty@cavancoco.ie; sean.conlon@cllr.monaghancoco.ie; nconnell@cavancoco.ie; dconnolly@cllr.galwaycoco.ie; nconnolly@kildarecoco.ie; terrycrossan@donegalcoco.ie; cllrlcull@roscommoncoco.ie; cllr.paul.daly@kerrycoco.ie; cllrstephanie.doheny@kilkennycoco.ie; albertdoherty@donegalcoco.ie; garydoherty@donegalcoco.ie; eric.donovan@louthcoco.ie; ldunne@cllrs.sdublincoco.ie; Eoghan.Fahy@cllr.corkcoco.ie; padraigfallonsf@gmail.com; NFennell@cllrs.sdublincoco.ie; edward.fennessy@members.meathcoco.ie; cllrpfitzgerald@waterfordcouncil.ie; cormac.flynn@leitrimcoco.ie; sinead.flynn@cllr.monaghancoco.ie; tom.forde@wexfordmcc.ie; michael.gallagher@members.meathcoco.ie; paul.gibbons@cllr.monaghancoco.ie; agladney@carlow.ie; michelle_gould@corkcity.ie; cllrjgriffin@waterfordcouncil.ie; tguilfoyle@cllr.clarecoco.ie; thealyt@gmail.com; cllrjhearne@waterfordcouncil.ie; noeljordan@donegalcoco.ie; leslie.kane@dublincity.ie; noel.keelan@cllr.monaghancoco.ie; kourtney.kenny@dublincity.ie; roisin.kenny@leitrimcoco.ie; fiona_kerins@corkcity.ie; joe_lynch@corkcity.ie; smaher@cllr.offalycoco.ie; RMannion@cllrs.sdublincoco.ie; amasterson@cllr.offalycoco.ie; aoifemastersonsf@gmail.com; bronagh.mcaree@cllr.monaghancoco.ie; sionainn.mccann@louthcoco.ie; debbie.mccole@louthcoco.ie; Julie.McCourt@westmeathcoco.ie; Pearse.McGeough@louthcoco.ie; michaelmcmahon@donegalcoco.ie; gerrymac111@hotmail.com; mmcnamara@cllr.galwaycoco.ie; kevin.meenan@louthcoco.ie; helen.meyer@members.meathcoco.ie; fiona.MhicConchoille@louthcoco.ie; edel.moran@dublincity.ie; cllrdonnchadhmulcahy@waterfordcouncil.ie; jackmurray@donegalcoco.ie; gmurray@cllr.mayococo.ie; cmurray.sf@cllr.offalycoco.ie; dakotanicmheanman@donegalcoco.ie; johnofearraigh@donegalcoco.ie; dermotobriensf@gmail.com; aoiferose.obrien@wexfordmcc.ie; cllrkomahoney@waterfordcouncil.ie; wotoole@wicklowcoco.ie; Malachy.quinn@cllrs.fingal.ie; annemarie.ryanshiner@cllr.tipperarycoco.ie; John.Smyth@cllrs.fingal.ie; pat.Treanor@cllr.monaghancoco.ie; antoin.watters@louthcoco.ie; NWhelan@cllrs.sdublincoco.ie; maria.white@members.meathcoco.ie
Email Sinn Fein Cllrs - Northern Ireland
mccabea@belfastcity.gov.uk; amanda.clarke@derrystrabane.com; annemarie.logue@antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk; annmarie.donnelly@fermanaghomagh.com; anthony.feely@fermanaghomagh.com; carsona@belfastcity.gov.uk; barry.mcelduff@fermanaghomagh.com; Brenda.Chivers@causewaycoastandglens.org; bmcguigan52@yahoo.ie; brona.haughey@armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk; anglinb@belfastcity.gov.uk; mccanncaoimhin@belfastcity.gov.uk; caramcshane@hotmail.com; catherine.nelson@armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk; christina.black@belfastcity.gov.uk; christopher.jackson@derrystrabane.com; beattiec@belfastcity.gov.uk; CanavanC@BelfastCity.gov.uk; mckayc@belfastcity.gov.uk; conor.heaney@derrystrabane.com; Cora.corry@midulstercouncil.org; darrentotten34@gmail.com; declan.murphy@nmandd.org; Dermot.nicholl@hotmail.com; dominic.molloy@midulstercouncil.org; donalmcp@hotmail.com; emma.mcginley@derrystrabane.com; gary.mccleave@lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk; gavin.bell.sf@gmail.com; glenn.campbell@fermanaghomagh.com; henry.cushinan@antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk; Cllr.Friary@midandeastantrim.org; Ianmilnesf@yahoo.ie; Cllr.McKeown@midandeastantrim.org; mageejj@belfastcity.gov.uk; duffyj@belfastcity.gov.uk; john.mcnamee@midulstercouncil.org; kate.murphy@nmandd.org; kathleen_mcgurk@outlook.com; keith.haughian@armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk; kevin.savage@armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk; laoiainenipheacoig@hotmail.com; liam.mackle@armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk; MeenehanL@belfastcity.gov.uk; garrettm@belfastcity.gov.uk; michael.goodman@antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk; michael.rice@nmandd.org; Micheal.Donnelly@belfastcity.gov.uk; michael.ruane@nmandd.org; micky.larkin@nmandd.org; brennannatasha@belfastcity.gov.uk; niall.mcaleer@midulstercouncil.org; nichola.bradley@belfastcity.gov.uk; Omcmullan@yahoo.com; oonagh.hanlon@nmandd.org; oonagh.magennis@nmandd.org; donnellyp@belfastcity.gov.uk; padraigin.kelly@fermanaghomagh.com; pat.murphy@derrystrabane.com; patricia.logue@derrystrabane.com; patrick.withers@fermanaghomagh.com; paul.duffy@armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk; philip.campbell@nmandd.org; DonnellyRois-Maire@belfastcity.gov.uk; roisin.howell@nmandd.org; Ronan.McLaughlin@belfastcity.gov.uk; rosie.kinnear@antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk; ruairi.mchugh@derrystrabane.com; murphyryan@belfastcity.gov.uk; ryan.carlin@lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk; sandra.duffy@derrystrabane.com; Sean.McGlinchey@causewaycoastandglens.org; sbateson93@gmail.com; seanmcpeake@hotmail.com; clerke@hotmail.com; walshseanna@belfastcity.gov.uk; selina.murphy@nmandd.org; sheamus.greene@fermanaghomagh.com; McCallinS@belfastcity.gov.uk; sorcha.mcgeown@armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk; stephen.mccann@fermanaghomagh.com; taylor.mcgrann@antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk; thomas.oreilly@fermanaghomagh.com; oneilltomas@belfastcity.gov.uk; tommy.maguire@fermanaghomagh.com; valerie.harte@nmandd.org; william.clarke@nmandd.org; Lucille.OHagan@antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk; Maighread.NiChonghaile@antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk; Annie.OLone@antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk; Eamonn.McLaughlin@antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk; johnog.okane@armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk; fergal.donnelly@armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk; ashley.mallon@armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk; sarah.duffy@armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk; chris.mccartan@armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk; jude.mallon@armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk; clare.mcconville-walker@armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk; mary.odowd@armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk; daniel.bassett@lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk; declan.lynch@lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk; Niamh.Archibald@causewaycoastandglens.org; Ciaran.McQuillan@causewaycoastandglens.org; Maighread.Watson@causewaycoastandglens.org; Ciaran.Archibald@causewaycoastandglens.org; paul.boggs@derrystrabane.com; caroline.devine@derrystrabane.com; alex.duffy@derrystrabane.com; sean.fleming@derrystrabane.com; brian.harte@derrystrabane.com; aisling.hutton@derrystrabane.com; fergal.leonard@derrystrabane.com; elizabeth.mcgowan@derrystrabane.com; ruairi.mchugh@derrystrabane.com; Grace.Ui.Niallais@Derrystrabane.com; antaine.ofearghail@derrystrabane.com; dermot.browne@fermanaghomagh.com; noeleen.hayes@fermanaghomagh.com; debbie.coyle@fermanaghomagh.com; john.feely@fermanaghomagh.com; elaine.brough@fermanaghomagh.com; declan.mcardle@fermanaghomagh.com; roisin.devinegallagher@fermanaghomagh.com; ruaidhri.lyttle@fermanaghomagh.com; marty.mccolgan@fermanaghomagh.com; catherine.kelly@fermanaghomagh.com; colette.mcnulty@fermanaghomagh.com; paddykelly12@hotmail.com; gael.gildernew@midulstercouncil.org; donna.mullin@sinnfein.ie; deirdre.varsani@midulstercouncil.org; grooganjolene@gmail.com; eimearcarney23@gmail.com; nuala.mclernon.sf@gmail.com; aidan.mathers@nmandd.org; cathal.king@nmandd.org; geraldine.kearns@nmandd.org; Jim.Brennan@nmandd.org; siobhan.o'hare@nmandd.org; martin.hearty@nmandd.org; aine.quinn@nmandd.org; niall.lawlor@nmandd.org
Email Sinn Fein MLAs
aine.murphy@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; aisling.reilly@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; Aoife.Finnegan@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; caoimhe.archibald@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; caral.nichuilin@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; cathal.boylan@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; ciara.ferguson@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; colm.gildernew@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; declan.kearney@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; declan.mcaleer@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; deirdre.hargey@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; emma.sheerin@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; gerry.kelly@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; jemma.dolan@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; john.odowd@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; linda.dillon@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; liz.kimmins@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; maoliosa.mchugh@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; michelle.oneill@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; nicola.brogan@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; orlaithi.flynn@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; padraig.delargy@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; pat.sheehan@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; philip.mcguigan@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; sinead.ennis@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; cathy.mason@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; danny.baker@mla.niassembly.gov.uk
Email Sinn Fein MPs
chris.hazzard.mp@parliament.uk; john.finucane.mp@parliament.uk; orfhlaith.begley@sinnfein.ie; paul.maskey.mp@parliament.uk; pat.cullen.mp@parliament.uk; cathal.mallaghan.mp@parliament.uk; daire.hughes.mp@parliament.uk
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