In December, the Minister for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity Christopher O’Sullivan shamefully voted AGAINST the ‘Ban Fox Hunting’ bill in Dail Eireann.
Will the Nature and Biodiversity Minister also vote against a ban on cruel hare coursing, a bloodsport which causes huge disturbance to the Irish Hare and results in fear, stress, injury and death to hares.
The Animal Health & Welfare (Ban on Hare Coursing) Bill returns to Dail Eireann for debate on 2nd July and for a vote on 8th July.
Contact Minister Christopher O’Sullivan today and demand that he votes in favour of the bill.
Minister O’Sullivan, whose department facilitates the continuation of coursing by issuing annual licences, is well aware of the suffering and death. Documents published on the NPWS website show details about the thousands of hares netted from the wild and forced to run for their lives, the mauled hares who “died from injuries” and the hares whose injuries were so severe, they were killed by coursing club vets.
“As Ireland’s Minister for NATURE and BIODIVERSITY, it would be completely inappropriate for you to oppose any legislation which would benefit the Irish Hare, an icon of our biodiversity,” we stated in an appeal to Minister O’Sullivan. “You should not have voted against a ban on fox hunting and you should certainly not betray the Irish Hare by voting against a bill to ban hare coursing.”
ACTION ALERT
Please join us in contacting Christopher O’Sullivan TD today and urging him to stand up for the Irish Hare (an icon of Ireland’s biodiversity), side with the majority who want hare coursing ended and vote in favour of the Animal Health & Welfare (Ban on Hare Coursing) Bill.
Christopher O’Sullivan TD (Fianna Fail, Cork South West)
Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity
Tel: (01) 618 3095 or 023 88 11011
Email: christopher.osullivan@oireachtas.ie; mos@housing.gov.ie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christopher.osullivan.716
Twitter: https://twitter.com/COSullivanTD
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christopher_o_sullivan_td
Sample Letter
(If you have time, please compose your own personal letter)
Dear Minister O’Sullivan,
I am writing to appeal to you to vote in favour of the Animal Health & Welfare (Ban on Hare Coursing) Bill on 8th July.
This bill aims to save the Irish Hare from the cruelty of coursing, a bloodsport which causes massive disturbance to the species and results in stress, injury and death to hares.
Coursing reports published by the NPWS division of your department leave no doubt about the suffering caused to hares. Thousands are taken from the wild in nets, held in captivity for weeks and forced to run for their lives in front of a merciless mob who cheer the dogs on and gamble on which will be first to make the hare change direction.
The documents detail the hares who were hit and mauled, the hares who “died from injuries” and the hares whose injuries were so severe, they were killed by coursing club vets.
You are Ireland’s Minister for Nature and Biodiversity. You must support legislation which benefits the hare, an icon of our biodiversity.
Please stand up for the Irish Hare, respect the wishes of the majority who want coursing outlawed and vote in favour of the Animal Health & Welfare (Ban on Hare Coursing) Bill.
Yours sincerely,
[Name/Location]
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Watch our campaign videos
Tell your TDs to support the “Ban on Hare Coursing” Bill on 2nd July
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeVMqt6PamE
The suffering of hares during 2025 26 coursing season
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jN3OMM7_UY
Please support our campaign with a donation
https://www.paypal.me/banbloodsports
http://revolut.me/icabs