People have reacted with disgust to a Facebook post by Fianna Fail TD Niall Collins about his support for another €96 million government grant to horse and greyhound racing.
In the December 1st post, the pro-bloodsports Limerick TD included a graphic of a horse along with the message “Fianna Fail in government supports our horse and greyhound industries. Today we approved €96 million for 2021 to support investment, jobs and improved animal welfare. Greyhound - €19.2 million / Horses - €76.8 million.”
Many of those who responded to the post expressed anger and disgust at the latest squandering of taxpayers’ money on the two gambling activities which have received more than one a quarter Billion euros of public funds since 2001.
“Make no mistake - this is absolutely nothing to be proud about,” one person commented. “It disgusts me and many others that you are funding animal cruelty...There are so many better uses for that money.” Another described Deputy Collins’ post as “a political party shooting itself in the foot”.
With a RED C opinion poll showing that just 16 per cent support the government’s massive grants to greyhound racing, Niall Collins TD is certainly in the minority. The poll confirmed that a two thirds majority of Irish citizens want the government to end all funding to the cruel, dog-killing activity.
Calls on the government to stop propping up greyhound racing with public funds have been growing since the broadcast of the “RTE Investigates: Greyhounds Running for Their Lives” documentary.
The shocking documentary, which exposed the horrors of greyhound racing and hare coursing, revealed that thousands of greyhounds are killed every year simply because they are not fast enough. It included harrowing scenes of dogs being delivered to a knackery where they were shot in the head and dumped in a skip. One shot dog was seen writhing on the ground in agony as his merciless owner drove away.
Highlighted in the programme was a damning report which revealed that around 6,000 greyhounds are killed every year because they don’t make the grade. The report, which the Irish Greyhound Board attempted to hide, estimated that, for example, a total of 17,962 greyhounds were culled in 2013, 2014 and 2015. They were killed for “failure to produce qualifying times”, “failure to produce desired entry level times” and for an “unacceptable decline in performance”.
More feedback to Niall Collins’ Facebook post:
“This so-called sport, its backers and people like you, purportedly representing your constituents, belong in the dark ages. The world is changing. You and your party have demonstrated the inability or unwillingness to change with it. Make no mistake, you will be left behind.”
“Read the room. Ye don’t have the money to pay the student nurses who’ve worked huge hours on the frontline throughout this pandemic, but ye have €96 million for greyhounds and horse racing. I’m sure the student nurses on the frontline will be delighted that they greyhound industry will survive with government assistance”
“An absolutely shameless post. Supporting greyhound and horse racing when your country is in an absolute shambles with regards health care and homelessness”
“Shame on you for supporting bloody business! This is inhuman. Still stuck in dark ages.”
“Absolutely disgusting and also that you are very proud to support animal abuse.”
“People are losing lives, jobs, homes...this is an obnoxious use of tax payers money”
“I am angered and appalled that in particular the Greyhound Industry - supported by a minority of the population is being Shored Up with State Funding! An Industry that cannot account for the 6,000 dogs culled every year because they don't make the grade. An industry that fails to ban the export of Greyhounds (either directly or indirectly) to countries with extremely poor or no animal welfare legislation in place”
“Would be ashamed to post or be proud of something like this. Perhaps relieving the financial burden of the animal rescues all over the country would be more noble. And then to vote against paying student nurses & midwives who worked throughout the pandemic...talk about having your priorities arseways. Disappointed is an understatement, Niall”
“Absolutely raging! Supporting Greyhound racing when 6k dogs destroyed every year for not being fast enough! Rescues taking up the slack and the strays with donations only to rely on. I'm beyond disgusted at this decision”
“I'll remind myself that FF are so so out of touch with the country that you will fund animal cruelty over nurses pay, or lowering class sizes, or reducing waiting lists to access mental health services I could go on but sure you know yourself how utterly ridiculous this is.”
“I can’t believe they are proud of themselves. RED C opinion polls showed the majority of people didn’t want it and still...”
“That’s a vote lost. Stop funding the greyhound industry, put the money in to assisting those who pick up the pieces, spend more shutting down the puppy mills, investigate the mistreatment of horses by those who shouldn't be allowed keep them, start being part of the solution not funding the problem.”
Read more at https://www.facebook.com/NiallCollinsTD/photos/a.837647359584767/4179489872067149
More information about Niall Collins TD and animal cruelty issues
In June 2016, Niall Collins was among the 114 TDs who voted against Deputy Maureen O’Sullivan’s bill which sought to ban cruel hare coursing.
In 2016, 2018 and 2019, voted in favour of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations which granted €80 million/€84 million/€84 million of taxpayers’ money to horse and greyhound racing.
“Best wishes to Castleisland Coursing Club from Niall Collins, Fianna Fail TD” (Advert in the Castleisland Coursing Club booklet, January 2020.
“To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when greyhound racing can resume under the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business; and if he will make a statement on the matter.” Dail question from Niall Collins, 20 May 2020.
“To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when a [hare coursing] licence will be issued and if she will make a statement on the matter.” Dail Question from Niall Collins TD, 27 May 2020.
Niall Collins intervened on behalf of a disgruntled hunter to investigate why there was a delay in issuing him with a hunting licence. The pro-bloodsports Limerick TD considered the matter so important that he elevated it to Ministerial level. In a 22 September 2015 Dail Question aimed at Arts and Heritage Minister, Heather Humphreys, Collins asked “the reason for the delay in the issue of a deer hunting licence for a person in County Limerick; when it will be issued; and if she will make a statement on the matter.”
“…the Minister travelled around the country scaring people in fishing clubs, coursing clubs, shooting clubs and anybody else to whom he could talk.” Niall Collins during a debate on the Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011, 25 January 2012.
In a February 2012 Dail Question, Niall Collins asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht “his policy on hare coursing” and “his policy on stag hunting”.
In 2008, Deputy Niall Collins called on Environment Minister John Gormley to grant coursing licences as a matter of urgency. Quoted in the Irish Examiner of August 19, 2008, he said: “It stands to reason that once the licences have been granted the various coursing clubs and organisations can better plan when, where and how they will capture hares. This will help to ensure that the best possible care for the hares is provided and it will also give the various coursing clubs more certainty when it comes to planning their activities…I do not agree with the narrow view taken by the Irish Council Against Blood Sports on this issue, as they don’t understand and value the traditional and cultural elements of this greyhound sector.”
“In Opposition, the Taoiseach’s party and the Labour Party opposed the ban on the Ward Union stag hunt. Will the Government be introducing legislation to reverse the ban? If so, when?” from a Dail debate, 8 November 2011
“Fianna Fail TD Niall Collins believed that RISE was not a mass movement of rural interests but a ‘professional lobby group’ led by influential people who were involved in politics or are politically engaged. ‘RISE has succeeded in confusing the nation and causing upset and anxiety across all its rural pressure groups about the ban on stag hunting, even though it is clear from the Programme for Government that fox hunting, hare coursing, angling, shooting and all outdoor pursuits are all safe,’ said Collins.” Sunday Business Post, 4th July 2010.
“I was glad to welcome Richie Quinn to Dáil Éireann this week to observe the vote on coursing on behalf of the Limerick Coursing Clubs. The vote to ban coursing was defeated by 114 votes against to 20 votes for.” Niall Collins TD in a Facebook post, 1 July 2016.
“Like everybody who watched the programme [RTE Investigates: Greyhounds Running For Their Lives] I found it to be deeply shocking. Animal welfare is a core belief of the vast majority of people. Following the airing of the programme I received a deluge of phone calls and emails from people outraged at what they saw. I have also detected a huge change in the political support that greyhound racing has enjoyed over the years. The challenge to the Greyhound industry is plain and simple deal with these issues comprehensively or face a complete cut in the public funding that’s received each year. ” Statement from Niall Collins TD, 8 July 2019.