“Over Christmas the all-out attack on our native hare was stepped up” - Read John Fitzgerald’s Letter to the Editor in the Irish Daily Mail and please scroll down for action alert...
On course for cruelty
Letter, Irish Daily Mail, 30th December 2022
Earlier this year a government department gave the go-ahead to another coursing season. On foot of a licence issued by that department, thousands of hares have been snatched from the Irish countryside, held in unnatural captivity and then forced to run from hyped-up dogs.
The Irish Hare is supposedly a protected species and the “flagship” of our biodiversity, but the government sees fit to allow it to be abused in this way...mainly to appease backbench rural TDs who hope to win a few votes from it.
Over Christmas the all-out attack on our native hare was stepped up, with hundreds of the fleet footed creatures performing in latter-day versions of the Roman amphitheatre, complete with cheering fans and the manifest terror of a defenceless, sentient being that finds itself on the butt end of a “sport.”
Politicians allow this to happen and then expect us to take them seriously when they “care” about biodiversity.
John Fitzgerald,
Callan, Co. Kilkenny
ACTION ALERT
HELP THE HARES: Urgently contact Heritage Minister Darragh O’Brien and Minister of State Malcolm Noonan and tell them to withdraw the 2022-23 hare coursing licences and also stop the hunting and shooting of Irish Hares.
Email “Stop all hare coursing, hunting and shooting NOW” 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
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DarraghOBrienTD
Twitter: http://twitter.com/DarraghOBrienTD
Malcolm Noonan TD (Green Party, Carlow Kilkenny)
Minister of State for Heritage
Tel: (01) 888 2425 OR (01) 618 3156
Email: mos@housing.gov.ie; malcolm.noonan@oireachtas.ie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/votemalcolmnoonan1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/noonan_malcolm
It is time for politicians to consign hare coursing to history. Join us in contacting all TDs and urging them to act. Visit the Oireachtas website for contact details https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/tds/?term=/ie/oireachtas/house/dail/33
Urge the leaders of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, the Green Party, Sinn Fein and Labour to respect the wishes of the majority and ban hare coursing.
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
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
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
Mary Lou McDonald TD
Leader, Sinn Fein
Tel: (01) 727 7102
Email: marylou.mcdonald@oireachtas.ie
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaryLouMcDonald
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MaryLouMcDonaldTD
Ivana Bacik TD
Leader, The Labour Party
Tel: (01) 6183136
Email: ivana.bacik@oireachtas.ie
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ivanabacik
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bacikivana/
Please sign and share the petitions
Ban Blood Sports in Ireland
https://www.change.org/p/ban-blood-sports-in-ireland
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