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Irish Times
27-05-2025
- General
- Irish Times
Bill to ban foxhunting in Ireland causes discontent in Dáil
Animal rights activists gathered outside the Leinster House on Tuesday today in support of People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger's Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2025, which seeks to ban foxhunting in Ireland. The Billseeks to ban trail hunting, snaring and fox trapping, which she says 'have all proven to be loopholes in the UK', where foxhunting was banned in 2005. 'There's no reason to be killing animals for entertainment', Coppinger said before introducing the Bill on Tuesday, describing the practice as 'an elitist so-called sport'. Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon said last week the Government is satisfied by 'voluntary codes of practices' established by the Hunting Association of Ireland. READ MORE These provisions account for the treatment of animals during hunts as well as concerns of landowners on which the hunt is taking place. Under the existing legislation, people may be prosecuted for animal hunting if 'a specific case of animal neglect or cruelty is identified'. Supporters of Ms Coppinger's Bill say this provision does not go far enough. Irish Council Against Blood Sports spokesperson Aideen Yourell spoke outside the Dáil of 'the most appalling conditions' suffered by both the foxes and the hunting hounds. She wasn't overly hopeful about the prospects of the Bill. 'We don't get support from the major parties, and Sinn Féin are hedging their bets', she said. Independent Ireland TD Michael Collins and Independent TD Danny Healy-Rae both opposed the Bill at its first stage, a departure from typical Dáil procedure. Ms Coppinger described this move as 'unprecedented' and 'a stifling of the freedom of debate and the freedom of speech'. Mr Collins labelled foxes as a 'pest species [who] can cause a serious concern to many farmers', while Mr Healy-Rae said 'they come into towns and villages, they go in and out of bins. They're everywhere, they've 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. – Additional reporting PA
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.'
