A Fianna Fail Councillor who supports hare coursing is among the politicians upset by a new school book which focuses on cruelty and killing in greyhound racing.
Kerry Radio is reporting that Cllr Fionnán Fitzgerald, who is also an Irish and Religion school teacher, “is calling for a school book that includes a section on greyhound racing to be withdrawn”.
In an interview with the radio station, he said: “the statements [in the book] need to based closer to reality and closer to the truth, rather than short, pithy statements that could lead to wild conclusions.”
Also complaining about the Folens-published “Make a Difference” book is Fianna Fail TD Jackie Cahill (who is a director of Thurles Greyhound Stadium and has shares in the stadium) and party colleague Barry Cowen TD, who was sacked as Agriculture Minister last year, and is a former general manager at Mullingar stadium - one of the worst tracks in Ireland for greyhound injuries and deaths.
Last year, Cllr Fionnán Fitzgerald shamefully expressed his support for hare coursing - a bloodsport that causes stress, injury and death to Irish Hares. An advert in the Castleisland Coursing Club booklet stated: “Cllr Fionnán Fitzgerald wishes Castleisland Coursing Club all the very best this weekend and into the future.” The previous year, he reportedly highlighted “concerns” following a decision by the then Culture and Heritage Minister to suspend hare coursing licences due to fears that the deadly RHD2 virus could wipe out the Irish Hare.
The page in the “Make a Difference” activity book - which Cllr Fitzgerald wants withdrawn - educates pupils about the victims of greyhound racing.
“Unsuccessful greyhounds are sometimes abandoned or even put down,” the page states.
As revealed in RTE’s award-winning "Greyhounds running for their lives", around 6,000 greyhounds are “put down” every year in Ireland simply because they are not fast enough to win races.
The documentary featured content from a Greyhound Racing Ireland-commissioned report which estimated that 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”. Read the report at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1X94XJGXdHtxLvraoya5rP8NE48FkwxqQ/view
Among the other issues included on the “Make a Difference” text book page is the cutting off of greyhound ears (before the greyhounds are dumped) to remove tattoos which identify the dog and owner.
Readers of “Make a Difference” are encouraged to “write an email or letter to the Minister for Agriculture...suggesting some actions the Irish Government can take to protect the welfare of greyhounds in Ireland.”
With thousands of greyhounds destroyed every year in Ireland and many injuries and deaths at tracks, the best action the Irish Government can take is to ban greyhound racing or, at the very least, stop propping up the cruel, dog-killing activity with millions of euros of taxpayers’ money. A two thirds majority want the funding stopped and it’s time for politicians to listen and let greyhound racing die a death.
Responding to complaints from those involved in greyhound racing, Folens told RTE News that the language on the page was “measured and considered” and that the authors conducted widespread research.
ACTION ALERT
Thank Folens publishers for highlighting greyhound racing cruelty and killing in its "Make a Difference" book - Email: info@folens.ie
STOP THE STATE FUNDING FOR GREYHOUND RACING
Since 2001, Greyhound Racing Ireland (formerly the Irish Greyhound Board) has been granted more than a QUARTER OF A BILLION EUROS, including €16.8 million for 2020 and another €19.2 million for 2021. This is unacceptable and must be stopped.
Please contact your local TDs and urge them to oppose this funding. Visit the Oireachtas website for contact details for TDs 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 stop the funding and back a ban on cruel greyhound racing
Micheál Martin TD
Leader, Fianna Fail
Email: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie; micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie; info@fiannafail.ie
Phone: 021-432 0088
Leinster House: 01–618 4350
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
Alan Kelly TD
Leader, Labour Party
Tel: 067 34190
Email: alan.kelly@oir.ie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alankellytd/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/alankellylabour
Sign and share the petitions
Tell Gain Pet Nutrition to Stop Sponsoring Greyhound Racing
https://www.change.org/p/jimtracy-glanbia-ie-tell-gain-pet-nutrition-to-stop-sponsoring-greyhound-racing
Ireland must ban greyhound racing
https://www.thepetitionsite.com/en-gb/184/794/470/?TAP=1732
“Stop Greyhound Racing”
https://www.change.org/p/the-department-of-agriculture-stop-greyhound-racing
Please support our campaign with a donation
https://www.paypal.me/banbloodsports
SEE ALSO
School book highlights suffering and death in greyhound racing
https://www.facebook.com/banbloodsports/videos/2907541506170896/