Bill to ban fox hunting passes first stage vote in Dáil
The Dáil has voted to pass the first stage of a piece of legislation that would ban fox hunting with 113 TDs voting in favour and 49 against.
However, the Government has said that it will oppose the legislation when it comes before the Dáil again.
The Animal Health and Welfare Bill had been proposed by People Before Profit-Solidarity TDs Ruth Coppinger and Paul Murphy.
However in an unusual move at this point in the passage of a bill, a vote was called by Independent TD Danny Healy-Rae and Michael Collins of Independent Ireland.
A Government spokesperson said the decision to call a vote on this bill at first stage means that in effect this became a vote on the right of a TD to table legislation.
They said it would be undemocratic and unprecedented in the modern parliamentary era for the Government to vote down the right of a legislator to table a bill at first stage.
"We are clear that the vote should not have been called at this stage, and it is not good practice for TDs to be denied their right to table bills.
"For that reason the Government will vote for the Bill at first stage but will oppose it at second stage," they said.
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