Sinn Féin MLAs are being urged to back an upcoming bill which aims to ban the hunting of wild mammals with dogs in Northern Ireland.
In correspondence to Sinn Fein, ICABS asked for confirmation that the party would back the bill which is due to be introduced by Alliance Party MLA, John Blair. We highlighted a statement from Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald TD last year in which she outlined that the party supports a ban on foxhunting.
In a message to the Irish Council Against Blood Sports in February 2020, Deputy McDonald stated: "Sinn Fein is opposed to foxhunting and we will vote in favour of a ban at the next opportunity".
Support for John Blair MLA's Bill to ban hunting with dogs would be widely welcomed - a Survation opinion poll commissioned by the League Against Cruel Sports found that a majority in Northern Ireland are in favour of a ban. The poll showed that 83% want deer hunting with dogs banned and 76% want fox hunting and hare hunting banned.
All these activities involve horrendous animal cruelty and a ban is long overdue. The deer, foxes and hares are chased by dogs and when caught, they are attacked and brutally killed.
A ban on hunting with hounds in Northern Ireland would increase pressure on members of Dail Eireann to follow suit. This would also prove popular with the electorate. A RED C poll conducted in 2019 confirmed that a 77% majority of citizens in the Republic of Ireland want foxhunting (and hare coursing) made illegal. Just 12% and 9% respectively want foxhunting and hare coursing to continue. Hare coursing is already illegal in Northern Ireland.
Considering the awful cruelty involved and the fact that a clear majority want these bloodsports outlawed, we are calling on Sinn Féin (and all parties) to give full backing to the upcoming bill.
Many of Sinn Féin’s current and past representatives in the Dáil and Seanad have expressed support for a ban on bloodsports - see list below - and this is believed to be consistent with the majority view of the party’s membership.
Find out more at John Blair MLA’s upcoming bill
https://www.allianceparty.org/blair_announces_plans_to_bring_bill_to_outlaw_hunting_wild_mammals_with_dogs
ACTION ALERT
Contact Sinn Fein and the party’s MLAs and appeal to them to pledge support for John Blair MLA’s upcoming bill to ban hunting with dogs.
Sinn Féin, 44 Parnell Square, Dublin 1
Tel: (353) 1 8726100/8726932
Email: admin@sinnfein.ie
Sinn Féin, 53 Falls Road, Belfast, BT12 4PD
Tel: 02890 347350
Email addresses for Sinn Fein MLAs
martina.anderson@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; caoimhe.archibald@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; cathal.boylan@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; nicolabrogan.sfmla@gmail.com; linda.dillon@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; jemma.dolan@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; sinead.ennis@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; orlaithi.flynn@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; colm.gildernew@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; deirdre.hargey@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; declan.kearney@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; gerry.kelly@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; liz.kimmins@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; sean.lynch@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; alex.maskey@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; declan.mcaleer@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; fra.mccann@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; philip.mcguigan@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; maoliosa.mchugh@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; karen.mullan@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; conor.murphy@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; caral.nichuilin@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; john.odowd@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; michelle.oneill@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; emma.rogan@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; pat.sheehan@mla.niassembly.gov.uk; emma.sheerin@mla.niassembly.gov.uk
Find out more contact details at
http://aims.niassembly.gov.uk/mlas/search.aspx
Sinn Féin TDs/Senators and animal bloodsports
Kathleen Funchion TD (Sinn Fein, Carlow Kilkenny)
“I think like most people, I deplore the abuse of animals and cruelty to animals. It is something that is quite a passionate issue for many of our members locally and I think of it as an issue which deserves more airtime in our national and local discourse. Sinn Fein has opposed all bloodsports in Ireland and some of our members even went as far as stopping a hunt in Westmeath several years ago. Their position filled me with great pride and I have always tried my best to remain consistent in that view."
Aengus O Snodaigh TD (Sinn Fein, Dublin South Central)
On 24th March 2009, Aengus O Snodaigh, TD asked the Minister for Agriculture “if in the context of his responsibility for animal welfare and the legal protection of animals from cruelty, he will introduce legislation banning all blood sports including hare coursing and fox hunting”. On 10th March, 2009, he asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government “if he will introduce legislation banning all blood sports including hare coursing and fox hunting”.
Sean Crowe TD (Sinn Fein, Dublin South West)
“I find [blood ‘sports’] to be a loathsome practice and the argument that they are in some manner a necessary part of traditional, rural life insulting to the intelligence. I would be delighted to support any and all legislation, which restricts, or bans these ‘sports’.”
John Brady TD (Sinn Fein, Wicklow)
“As an animal lover and someone that works continuously on animal welfare issues, I totally oppose all forms of ‘blood sports’ I think the practice of killing or maiming animals for someone’s enjoyment is wrong and should not be even considered as a sport.” from an email from Cllr John Brady to ICABS, June 2015.
“Hare coursing needs to be banned. Wicklow Sinn Fein brought forward a motion at a recent Ard Fheis calling on the party [to] support the banning of hare coursing. It was debated at the Ard Fheis, however it was narrowly defeated. We are going to go at it again as I believe there is an appetite now to change the policy” John Brady TD, Comment on Facebook, 6th February 2020)
Pauline Tully TD (Sinn Féin, Cavan-Monaghan)
Deputy Tully told a constituent that she is “personally against hare coursing” (February 2020).
Chris Andrews TD (Sinn Fein, Dublin Bay South)
In 2010, Chris Andrews TD voted in favour of the ban on carted deer hunting.
Paul Donnelly TD (Sinn Fein, Dublin West)
“I am opposed to blood “sports” and I find that term offensive. I would fully support a ban on these activities.” from an email to ICABS, June 2015.
Réada Cronin TD (Sinn Fein, Kildare North)
“I cannot understand why they’re called ‘sports’. I would support a ban on hare coursing and fox hunting.” from a tweet to ICABS, June 2015.
Sorca Clarke TD (Sinn Fein, Longford Westmeath)
“I would support a ban on blood sports, completely against any form of animal cruelty.” from a tweet to ICABS, June 2015.
Rose Conway-Walsh TD (Sinn Fein, Mayo)
“Yes [add me to the list of Sinn Fein politicians in favour of a ban on bloodsports]” Cllr Rose Conway-Walsh in a tweet to ICABS, June 2015.
Darren O’Rourke TD (Sinn Fein, Meath East)
“I support your call to end fox and deer hunting” From an email to a constituent, 2nd February 2020.
Views of former Sinn Fein TDs and Senators
Gerry Adams TD (Sinn Fein, Louth)
“I am against hare coursing” – stated in conversation with ICABS director, Aideen Yourell. Dail Eireann, 30th June 2016.
Senator Maire Devine (Sinn Fein)
“Tá [add me to the list of Sinn Fein politicians in favour of a ban on bloodsports]” from a tweet from Cllr Maire Devine to ICABS, June 2015.
Arthur Morgan, TD (Louth, Sinn Fein):
“Carted deer hunting is an unnecessary cruelty which causes horrific suffering to defenceless red deer,” Deputy Morgan stated. “This blood “sport” is not just an abomination for the animals involved – it can also pose a danger to members of the public, with terrified deer crashing through hedges, over walls and even across busy public roads to avoid being tortured. As a result the hunt has been condemned not only by animal welfare groups but also by farmers, landowners, motorists, parents and householders…The Irish Council Against Blood Sports are campaigning on this issue and they have my full support.” (Arthur Morgan, TD urges “total ban” on Ward Union)
Senator Trevor O Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)
Sinn Fein Senator, Trevor O Clochartaigh, has confirmed that the party “will not be supporting the repeal of the ban on stag hunting”. He said that Sinn Fein “consider stag hunting to be a bloodsport [that] causes the infliction of cruelty to animals”. November 2011.