A big THANK YOU to the Irish Veterinary Nurses Association for calling on politicians to vote in favour of the Animal Health & Welfare (Ban on Hare Coursing) Bill when it returns to Dail Eireann tonight (Wednesday 8th July).

"We ask you to stand with the veterinary profession, with modern animal welfare principles and with the many citizens who believe Ireland can do better," the IVNA stated in an appeal to TDs. "We urge you to support the proposed ban on hare coursing."

Read the Irish Veterinary Nurses Association's full statement below and please scroll down for urgent action alert...

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IRISH VETERINARY NURSES ASSOCIATION STATEMENT

On behalf of the Irish Veterinary Nurses Association, the representative body for registered veterinary nurses in Ireland, we are writing to urge you to support the proposed ban on hare coursing. Veterinary nurses are highly trained animal healthcare professionals who dedicate their careers to protecting animal health, preventing suffering and promoting the highest standards of animal welfare. Advocacy for animals is at the very core of our profession.

We also respectfully ask that party leadership reconsider the application of the party whip on this legislation and instead allow a free vote, enabling every elected representative to vote according to their own conscience and personal commitment to animal welfare.

Each coursing season, thousands of native Irish hares are captured from the wild, transported, confined in captivity and released into an environment where they are chased by greyhounds. Regardless of the outcome of any individual course, this process subjects wild animals to intense fear, distress and physiological stress. Some hares are injured or killed during events, while others may suffer delayed mortality following release due to the severe effects of capture and handling. The capture and confinement of wild hares also presents wider concerns for disease transmission within vulnerable wildlife populations. Modern animal welfare science has increasingly recognised the importance of protecting animals not only from pain and injury, but also from fear, distress and avoidable suffering. This principle is reflected throughout evolving European animal welfare policy, where animals are recognised as sentient beings deserving of appropriate protection.

Ireland has long demonstrated leadership in many areas of animal health and veterinary medicine. However, on hare coursing, we now find ourselves increasingly out of step with contemporary animal welfare expectations. As veterinary professionals, we believe that wildlife should not be subjected to unnecessary stress or suffering for the purpose of sport or entertainment.

We appreciate that party positions play an important role in parliamentary democracy. However, matters concerning animal welfare transcend political ideology. They are questions of ethics, compassion and public conscience.

We therefore respectfully ask that party leaders reconsider the use of the party whip on this legislation and permit a free vote. This would allow every TD to represent both their own convictions and the views of the communities they were elected to serve.

When this legislation comes before the Dáil, we ask you to stand with the veterinary profession, with modern animal welfare principles, and with the many citizens who believe Ireland can do better.

As veterinary nurses, we witness every day the fear, pain and suffering animals experience. Preventing unnecessary suffering is not simply part of our profession, it is our ethical obligation. The Irish hare cannot advocate for itself. Today, that responsibility rests with you.
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TAKE ACTION

Contact the leaders of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Sinn Fein. Tell them to vote in favour of the Animal Health & Welfare (Ban on Hare Coursing) Bill tonight, 8th July.

Micheál Martin TD
Leader, Fianna Fail
Tel: 01 619 4000
Email: micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie; info@fiannafail.ie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
X: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD

Simon Harris TD
Leader, Fine Gael
Telephone: 01 281 3727
Email: simon.harris@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DeputySimonHarris
X: http://www.twitter.com/SimonHarrisTD

Mary Lou McDonald TD
Leader, Sinn Fein
Tel: (01) 727 7102
Email: marylou.mcdonald@oireachtas.ie
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MaryLouMcDonaldTD
X: https://twitter.com/MaryLouMcDonald

Email Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Sinn Fein TDs and tell them to vote in favour of the Animal Health & Welfare (Ban on Hare Coursing) Bill.

Fianna Fail TDs

john.mcguinness@oireachtas.ie; peterchap.cleere@oireachtas.ie; jennifer.murnaneoconnor@oireachtas.ie; brendan.smith@oireachtas.ie; niamh.smyth@oireachtas.ie; cathal.crowe@oireachtas.ie; timmy.dooley@oireachtas.ie; james.oconnor@oireachtas.ie; padraig.osullivan@oireachtas.ie; michael.moynihan@oireachtas.ie; aindrias.moynihan@oireachtas.ie; seamus.mcgrath@oireachtas.ie; micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie; christopher.osullivan@oireachtas.ie; patthecope.gallagher@oireachtas.ie; Charlie.McConalogue@oireachtas.ie; tom.brabazon@oireachtas.ie; jim.ocallaghan@oireachtas.ie; darragh.obrien@oireachtas.ie; shane.moynihan@oireachtas.ie; paul.mcauliffe@oireachtas.ie; shay.brennan@oireachtas.ie; catherine.ardagh@oireachtas.ie; john.lahart@oireachtas.ie; jack.chambers@oireachtas.ie; Minister@per.gov.ie; cormac@cormacdevlin.ie; albert.dolan@oireachtas.ie; john.connolly@oireachtas.ie; michael.cahill@oireachtas.ie; norma.foley@oireachtas.ie; minister@dcde.gov.ie; naoise.ocearuil@oireachtas.ie; james.lawless@oireachtas.ie; sean.ofearghail@oireachtas.ie; sean.fleming@oireachtas.ie; willie.odea@oireachtas.ie; niall.collins@oireachtas.ie; Robert.Troy@oireachtas.ie; erin.mcgreehan@oireachtas.ie; dara.calleary@oireachtas.ie; ministerdrcd@drcd.gov.ie; thomas.byrne@oireachtas.ie; aisling.dempsey@oireachtas.ie; tony.mccormack@oireachtas.ie; martin.daly@oireachtas.ie; eamon.scanlon@oireachtas.ie; ryan.omeara@oireachtas.ie; mary.butler@oireachtas.ie; james.browne@oireachtas.ie; minister@housing.gov.ie; malcolm.byrne@oireachtas.ie

Fine Gael TDs

catherine.callaghan@oireachtas.ie; david.maxwell@oireachtas.ie; joe.cooney@oireachtas.ie; colm.burke@oireachtas.ie; johnpaul.oshea@oireachtas.ie; jerry.buttimer@oireachtas.ie; naoise.omuiri@oireachtas.ie; james.geoghegan@oireachtas.ie; Paschal.Donohoe@oireachtas.ie; grace.boland@oireachtas.ie; emer.higgins@oireachtas.ie; maeve.oconnell@oireachtas.ie; neale.richmond@oireachtas.ie; colm.brophy@oireachtas.ie; emer.currie@oireachtas.ie; barry.ward@oireachtas.ie; jennifer.carrollmacneill@oireachtas.ie; peter.roche@oireachtas.ie; hildegarde.naughton@oireachtas.ie; joe.neville@oireachtas.ie; Martin.Heydon@oireachtas.ie; william.aird@oireachtas.ie; kieran.odonnell@oireachtas.ie; Patrick.O'Donovan@oireachtas.ie; peter.burke@oireachtas.ie; micheal.carrigy@oireachtas.ie; paula.butterly@oireachtas.ie; alan.dillon@oireachtas.ie; keira.keogh@oireachtas.ie; helen.mcentee@oireachtas.ie; john.clendennen@oireachtas.ie; frank.feighan@oireachtas.ie; michael.murphy@oireachtas.ie; john.cummins@oireachtas.ie; Simon.Harris@oireachtas.ie; edward.timmins@oireachtas.ie; brian.brennan@oireachtas.ie; noel.mccarthy@oireachtas.ie

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

Sample Letter
(If you have time, please compose your own personal letter)

Dear Deputy,

I am writing to ask that you please help bring cruel hare coursing to an end in Ireland by voting in favour of Paul Murphy TD’s Animal Health & Welfare (Ban on Hare Coursing) Bill today. 

Under licence from the Department of Heritage, coursers net thousands of hares from the wild, transport them in boxes to coursing compounds, manhandle them, hold them in captivity for weeks/months and eventually force them to run for their lives in front of greyhounds.

All the hares suffer fear and stress and, despite the muzzling of the dogs, hares are injured and killed every coursing season when they are caught and mauled. Among the injuries documented are broken back, spinal injury, broken legs, damaged toes and dislocated hips.

Hares suffer at all stages – during capture, while held captive and at the coursing meetings where they can be seen desperately running as a merciless mob cheer the dogs on and gamble on which will be first to force the hare to change direction. Coursing compromises the welfare of hares and those who survive the ordeal remain at risk of dying from stress-related capture myopathy in the days and weeks after they are released back to the wild.

With the suffering, stress, injury and death caused to hares at coursing meetings, there should be no hesitation in finally ending this shameful activity. This would be widely welcomed by the 77% majority of Irish citizens who want coursing banned (just 9% disagree with a ban. Source: RED C poll).

Ireland is in the middle of a biodiversity crisis and it’s time for the iconic Irish Hare to be given full protection and allowed to live free from persecution. 

Please support the Animal Health & Welfare (Ban on Hare Coursing) Bill today.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

[Name/Address]

Watch our campaign videos

Support Paul Murphy TD's bill to ban coursing on July 8th
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KeqcHBNYis

The suffering of hares during 2025 26 coursing season 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jN3OMM7_UY

Hares in captivity at cruel coursing in Ireland 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFlADkFj7jA