Latest news with #Coppinger
Agriland
6 days ago
- Politics
- Agriland
Fox hunting bill passes first stage of voting in Dáil
The bill seeking to ban fox hunting in Ireland passed the first stage of voting in the Dáil, by a margin of 113 – 49, yesterday, May 28. People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger introduced the bill to amend the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 to specify that 'fox hunting and related practices are banned and therefore cannot be considered as lawful hunting'. A bill must pass through five stages in both the Dáil and Seanad before it can be enacted. The fox hunting bill will now move onto the second stage of the proceedings. This is where the general principles of the bill are debated, and provides TDs the opportunity to discuss what the bill contains, and what might be included in a relevant way. Deputy Coppinger told the Dáil that Ireland has 'become an outlier' as fox hunting is banned in England, Scotland and Wales. 'I believe fox hunting is a cruel and inhumane so-called blood sport. It clearly causes unnecessary suffering. 'Packs of dogs chasing after a fox relentlessly is obviously a very stressful and unnatural situation,' the Dublin West TD said. Deputy Coppinger said that in 1998 a code of conduct was approved by a minister for fox hunting packs. However, she said this has 'eliminated none of the cruelty that makes fox hunting one of Ireland's most inhumane activities'. 'Foxes are still dug out of the ground and tracked by trained terriers. Foxes are still chased by packs of dogs, sometimes for hours, and torn apart when caught. 'If a domestic animal were treated in this way, there would be an outcry,' she said. Fox hunting Independent Ireland TD Michael Collins, and Independent TD, Danny Healy-Rae both opposed the bill. Deputy Collins said that 'foxes are classified as a pest species', with up to 200,000 of the animals currently in the country. 'We need to have some kind of control, because the next thing we will be in here seeing if we can protect the rat, the mouse, or whatever. Nobody wants to protect the human beings; that is the problem from what I can see here,' he said. 'Foxes pose huge threats to farmers. If Deputy Coppinger had been brought up in a rural area, she would understand that. How many times have I heard down through the years that a fox had broken into a hen yard and destroyed every hen in the yard? 'They are also a threat to our native birds and young lambs. We need to have controls for foxes and hares. We should not be afraid to say that in this house. Independent Ireland will certainly be opposing the bill going forward,' he added.
Agriland
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Agriland
2 TDs oppose proposed bill to ban fox hunting
People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger has introduced a bill seeking to ban fox hunting in Ireland in the Dáil. The bill aims to amend the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 to specify that 'fox hunting and related practices are banned and therefore cannot be considered as lawful hunting'. Deputy Coppinger told the Dáil that Ireland has 'become an outlier' as fox hunting is banned in England, Scotland and Wales. 'I believe fox hunting is a cruel and inhumane so-called blood sport. It clearly causes unnecessary suffering. 'Packs of dogs chasing after a fox relentlessly is obviously a very stressful and unnatural situation,' the Dublin West TD said. Fox hunting Deputy Coppinger said that in 1998 a code of conduct was approved by a minister for fox hunting packs. However, she said this has 'eliminated none of the cruelty that makes fox hunting one of Ireland's most inhumane activities'. 'Foxes are still dug out of the ground and tracked by trained terriers. Foxes are still chased by packs of dogs, sometimes for hours, and torn apart when caught. 'If a domestic animal were treated in this way, there would be an outcry,' she said. A protest outside Dáil Éireann to coincide with the introduction of the bill calling for a ban on fox hunting. Source: Ruth Coppinger on X The TD told the Dáil that there is public support in both urban and rural areas to ban fox hunting, citing a Red C poll. 'Fox hunting has been banned for over two decades in Britain. I fail to understand why anyone would defend it here. 'The fox is a mammal native to Ireland and is part of Ireland's biodiversity. Fox hunting is of no benefit to anybody,' she added. Opposition Two TDs indicated that they would be opposing the bill, with Deputy Coppinger stating that this was 'unprecedented'. 'I have introduced many controversial things, as have other TDs, and I have never stopped a bill from going to second stage. 'I have been told to put on the big-girl pants and allow debate, but here we have a stifling of the freedom of debate and freedom of speech. I ask TDs and the government to reject the call to stop the bill progressing,' she said. Independent Ireland TD Michael Collins said that 'foxes are classified as a pest species', with up to 200,000 of the animals currently in the country. 'We need to have some kind of control, because the next thing we will be in here seeing if we can protect the rat, the mouse, or whatever. Nobody wants to protect the human beings; that is the problem from what I can see here,' he said. 'Foxes pose huge threats to farmers. If Deputy Coppinger had been brought up in a rural area, she would understand that. How many times have I heard down through the years that a fox had broken into a hen yard and destroyed every hen in the yard? 'They are also a threat to our native birds and young lambs. We need to have controls for foxes and hares. We should not be afraid to say that in this house. Independent Ireland will certainly be opposing the bill going forward,' he added. Deputy Collins said that under current regulations there are potential punishments for animal welfare violations including substantial fines and jail terms. Independent Kerry TD Danny Healy-Rae said he had been contacted 'from every corner of Kerry' by people wanting to stop this bill. 'All of us living in rural parts of Ireland know the damage that the fox has done and is doing. The numbers have increased to a massive amount altogether,' he said. The TD said that he was 'certainly opposing this bill' and would call for a vote. Government chief whip Mary Butler said that 'as is normally the case with private members' business, the bill will not be opposed on first stage'. 'That is the process. If and when the bill is listed for second stage, like all other private members' business, the government will then consider the matter at that point,' she added. Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy postponed the matter until tonight (Wednesday, May 28).
The Journal
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Bill to ban 'cruel and inhumane' fox hunting in Ireland introduced to Dáil
A BILL THAT would ban 'cruel' fox hunting in Ireland has been introduced to the Dáil. But the Animal Health and Welfare (Ban on Fox Hunting) Bill was immediately opposed by two rural TDs, who said foxes pose concerns for farmers. People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger, who introduced the bill, said it was 'unprecedented' for a bill to be opposed at first stage. She said she believed it was the first time a bill banning fox hunting was introduced in the Dáil. She said that fox hunting had already been banned in England, Scotland and Wales for over two decades and remained in Ireland as 'a relic' of British rule. She said foxes in Ireland are dug out of the ground, attacked by packs of dogs and sometimes 'torn apart'. Trail hunting, snaring and traps will also be included in the ban under her bill. 'I believe that fox hunting is a cruel and inhumane so-called blood sport,' Coppinger told the Dáil. 'It clearly causes unnecessary suffering, packs of dogs chasing after a fox relentlessly is obviously a very stressful and unnatural situation. 'Foxes are our last wild dog in Ireland and they should be protected.' She cited a 2019 RED C opinion poll, commissioned by the Irish Council Against Blood Sports, that indicated 77% believe fox hunting should be banned, and said that 74% of people polled who lived in rural areas believed it should be banned. Foxes 'serious concern to farmers' The bill was opposed at first stage by Independent Ireland leader Michael Collins and Kerry TD Danny Healy-Rae, which Coppinger said was 'unprecedented'. 'I've never stopped a bill from going to second stage,' she told the Dáil, arguing that it was a 'stifling' of freedom of debate. Advertisement Collins said that foxes were classed as a pest and that foxes can cause 'a serious concern to many farmers', as well as native bird species. 'The next thing we'll be inside here looking to see can we protect the rat and the mouse,' he told TDs. 'No one wants to protect the human beings, that's the problem here from what I can see.' He said there are fines of thousands of euros if there are breaches of existing fox hunting rules. 'Foxes do pose huge threats to farmers, I suppose if you were brought up in rural Ireland you'd understand that.' Healy-Rae said that people 'from all corners of Kerry' had got in touch with him 'to ensure that we stop this, where it's being tried to start'. 'They're all over the place' He claimed that 11 out of 12 hens owned by a constituent were killed by a fox. 'The numbers have increased dramatically. They're all over the place. They're coming into towns and villages. They're in and out of bins and they are everywhere. 'They have taken over, they have completely taken over the place.' Healy-Rae said he was calling a vote on the issue before being told by Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy that he could not do that. 'If I'm going to call a vote, I let you know,' she said. Chief whip Mary Butler said the government was not opposing the bill at first stage but would consider it at second stage. 'As is normally the case with Private Members' Business, the bill will not be opposed at first stage, that is the process. 'If and when the bill is listed for second stage, like all other Private Members Business, the government will then consider the matter at that point.'
RTÉ News
27-05-2025
- Politics
- RTÉ News
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.
Agriland
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Agriland
TD to introduce bill seeking to ban fox hunting
People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger is set to ramp her efforts to ban fox hunting in Ireland. The Dublin West TD will introduce her Animal Health and Welfare (Ban On Fox Hunting) Bill in the Dáil on Tuesday (May 27). A 'Ban Fox Hunting' protest will take place outside the Dáil on Kildare Street at 1:00p.m on the same day. Fox hunting Deputy Coppinger's bill aims to amend the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, which she said contains an exemption for hunting. If enacted, the bill would add a paragraph to Section 12 of the act to specify that 'fox hunting and related practices are banned and therefore cannot be considered as lawful hunting'. The bill focuses on banning not only fox hunting, but also trail hunting and the snaring and trapping of foxes. The proposed legislation would ban the hunting of foxes, including with dogs, and the use of dogs to flush or dig out a fox from below ground. Ban The bill states that 'fox hunting is a cruel and inhumane blood sport'. 'Fox hunting causes unnecessary suffering and stress to the fox. The practice entails setting a pack of dogs on a fox who then chase and kill the fox. 'The pack of dogs are generally pursued by hunters on horseback. It is a common practice for any fox that escapes underground to have hunt followers set terrier dogs on them to kill them underground or to flush them out. It is an archaic practice with a deeply elitist culture. 'Public opinion is opposed to the practice, with opinion polls overwhelmingly supportive of a ban on fox hunting,' the bill adds. The bill cites that fox hunting has been banned in Britain for over 20 years (Scotland introduced a ban in 2002, and England and Wales in 2005). 'Experience in Britain has shown that a loophole that permits trail hunting – where the scent of a fox is followed – often leads to the pursuit and killing of a fox,' the bill claims. 'The fox is a mammal native to Ireland and is part of Ireland's biodiversity. The killing of foxes through fox hunting is not needed to protect livestock or to protect biodiversity,' it adds. Deputy Coppinger revealed in February that she was working on this bill. In a video posted on social media at that time, she stated: 'Fox hunting has no benefit to anybody, except to entertain a tiny minority of usually quite privileged people. It is not a traditional pastime. It needs to be outlawed'. Deputy Coppinger was previously involved in securing a ban on fur farming in Ireland. She is also in favour of a ban on greyhound racing and hare coursing.
