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BreakingNews.ie
27-05-2025
- General
- BreakingNews.ie
Bill banning ‘cruel' fox hunting in Ireland introduced to Dáil
A bill that would ban 'cruel' fox hunting in Ireland has been introduced to the Dáil. The bill was immediately opposed by two rural independent TDs, who said foxes pose concerns for farmers. Advertisement Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger, who introduced the bill, said it was 'unprecedented' for a bill to be opposed at the 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'. Advertisement Trail hunting, snaring and traps will also be included in the ban under her bill, she said. 'I believe that fox hunting is a cruel and inhumane so-called blood sport,' she 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.' Advertisement She cited a 2019 RED C opinion poll, commissioned by the Irish Council Against Blood Sports, that indicated 77 per cent believe fox hunting should be banned, and said that 74 per cent of people polled who lived in rural areas believed it should be banned. The Animal Health and Welfare (Ban on Fox Hunting) Bill was opposed at first stage on Tuesday by Independent Ireland leader Michael Collins and Kerry TD Danny Healy-Rae, which Ms 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. Mr 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. Advertisement 'The next thing we'll be inside here looking to see can we protect the rat and the mouse. 'No one wants to protect the human beings, that's the problem here from what I can see,' he told TDs. 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.' Advertisement Mr 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'. 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.' Mr 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.'
Irish Times
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
What Independent TDs backing the Government want for their constituencies
The delivery of school building projects and road improvements are among issues raised with senior ministers by Government-supporting Independent TDs. Newly released records detail a range of requests from TDs including Barry Heneghan , Noel Grealish and Marian Harkin . Senior Government figures such as Taoiseach Micheál Martin have said there were no constituency deals with Independent TDs in return for their support. The records, released under the Freedom of Information Act, from the first two months of the Coalition offer an insight into the issues raised by Independent TDs as they continue to support the Government. READ MORE Dublin Bay North TD Mr Heneghan wrote to Minister for Education Helen McEntee in February requesting a meeting to discuss the development of a school building for Gaelcholáiste Reachrann in Donaghmede. It has been in temporary accommodation for more than 20 years. Mr Heneghan wrote that the project 'is of utmost importance to our community' and said he looked forward 'to the possibility of working together to ensure the success of this important initiative'. Mr Heneghan told The Irish Times he had spoken to Ms McEntee about a visit to the school and was pushing for 'further progress' on delivering the new building. On the level of influence he has as a result of his backing for the Coalition, he said: 'Why would I support a Government that didn't give me influence to deliver for north Dublin?' Mr Grealish, a Galway West TD and Minister of State, wrote to Ms McEntee a number of times about Scoil Chaitríona, in Renmore, which is to get a new building but needs a proposed temporary site while construction is taking place. Ms McEntee replied outlining how a viable alternative location for the school to operate 'to allow for the construction of any new building at the Renmore site is still to be agreed'. As part of this process, she said, the department would look at possible options, including the estimated associated costs. She said work was under way. Minister of State Ms Harkin, a Sligo-Leitrim TD, wrote to Ms McEntee asking if there was funding to 'cover the cost of renting a [portable building] in order to provide an extra classroom' at St Clare's Primary School in Manorhamilton, Co Leitrim. In response to queries from The Irish Times, the Department of Education did not offer information on the status of any of the projects. Department of Transport records showed that Longford-Westmeath TD and Minister of State Kevin 'Boxer' Moran's office forwarded a representation to Minister Darragh O'Brien from Durrow Community Development Group. It set out how the group wanted funding for a link road from the N4 intersection at Kilbeggan to the Tullamore bypass. The group said people were 'putting their lives at risk because of the level of traffic'. The department told The Irish Times the project 'is being considered as part of the ongoing NDP [ National Development Plan ] review'. Ms Harkin wrote to Mr O'Brien about proposals to upgrade the section of the N17 from Knock, Co Mayo, to Collooney in Co Sligo and she sent a request by Sligo County Council members for a meeting with him. The department did not say if Mr O'Brien agreed to the meeting. It said a preferred route had been selected for the road and it 'is in the design and environmental evaluation phase, during which a preliminary business case will be prepared'. The departments of Education and Transport said representations were made to their respective ministers 'from Oireachtas members from all parties and none on a daily basis'. 'All of these representations are examined by officials, processed and responded to in the same manner,' they said.
