TD introduces bill to ban fox hunting in Ireland
People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger has introduced a bill in the Dáil to ban fox hunting in Ireland, aiming to amend the Animal and Health Welfare Act.
She said Ireland is an outlier now as fox hunting is banned in England, Scotland and Wales.
Ms Coppinger said fox hunting is one of Ireland's most inhumane activities, despite a code of conduct introduced by the minister in 1998.
"Foxes are still dug out of the ground and attacked by trained terriers, they are still chased by packs of dogs, sometimes for hours and torn apart when caught," Ms Coppinger said.
"If a domestic animal was treated like this, there would be an outcry," she added.
According to Ms Coppinger, polls show there is strong support for a ban in both urban and rural areas.
She said an amendment to the act would make fox hunting an illegal and unlawful activity.
"I believe fox hunting is a cruel and inhumane so-called blood sport.
"It clearly causes unnecessary suffering. Fox hunting has been banned for over two decades in Britain and I fail to understand why anyone would defend it here. Fox hunting is of no benefit to anyone," she said.
However, Independent Ireland TD Michael Collins said he is opposed to the changes that Ms Coppinger is proposing, adding that foxes pose a huge threat to farmers.
"Foxes are classified as a pest species, that is a fact whether we agree or disagree," he said.
"There are up to 200,000 foxes in Ireland at the moment and they can cause serious concern to many farmers.
"We have to have some kind of controls because the next thing we will be inside here looking to see if we can protect the rat and the mouse. Nobody wants to protect human beings," he added.
"I have heard many times over the years that a fox broke into the henyard and destroyed every hen that was inside in the yard.
"Foxes are also a threat to our native birds, and a threat to our young lambs, so we do have to have controls; controls in relation to the fox, controls in relation to the hare, and we should not be afraid to say that," Mr Collins said.
He added that there are regulations in place at the moment as well as punishments with substantial fines.
Independent TD Danny Healy Rae, who supports the Government, said he was also opposed to the bill.
"From every corner of Kerry, people have rang and sent emails to ensure that we stop this before it is started," he said.
"Every one of us that is living in rural Ireland knows the damage a fox has done and is doing. The numbers have increased massively," he added.
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