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Irish Times
5 days ago
- General
- Irish Times
Sinn Féin voting against first-stage Bill banning fox hunting ‘deeply troubling', Social Democrats say
A decision by Sinn Féin vote against an Opposition Bill seeking to ban fox hunting was 'deeply troubling' and potentially undemocratic, the acting Social Democrats leader has said. A Private Members' Bill to ban hunting was introduced to the Dáil on Wednesday by People Before Profit TD Ruth Coppinger. Bills are not normally voted on at that early stage and are given leave to pass to the second stage for a full Dáil debate. However, in an unusual development, a vote was called on the Bill by Kerry TD Danny Healy-Rae. Sinn Féin, Independent Ireland and a handful of rural Independent TDs all voted against it at first stage. READ MORE However, the two Government parties, and the other Opposition parties and TDs, voted to give the Bill leave and it passed to second stage. Acting Social Democrats leader Cian O'Callaghan wrote to Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald on Thursday to express his deep concern at her party's decision to block the Bill. 'While the Social Democrats believe strongly that blood sports are barbaric and cruel, we recognise the democratic right of Sinn Féin to take an opposing view,' he wrote. 'However, the decision by Sinn Féin to vote to prevent a Bill going to the second stage was unprecedented and deeply troubling.' Mr O'Callaghan said allowing the Bill through would not have denoted opposition or assent. 'As far as I am aware a political party has never attempted to block an Opposition TD tabling a piece of legislation. What is really extraordinary about what happened last night is that it was Sinn Féin – an Opposition party – which attempted to block a Bill from another Opposition grouping – People Before Profit/Solidarity – proceeding to the second stage.' He added that if the practice was continued it would be undemocratic and completely undermine the role of the Opposition. A spokesman for Sinn Féin said its vote was 'no big deal'. He said the party voted against the legislation in the knowledge that it was going to the second stage in any instance. 'We have a different position and took the opportunity to set out our opposition to the legislation,' he said.
Agriland
5 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.
RTÉ News
6 days ago
- Politics
- RTÉ News
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.
Irish Independent
6 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Meath councillor calls for ban on ‘barbaric' fox hunting
Councillor Alan Lawes, who travelled to the Dáil this week to support a bill that would outlaw fox hunting in Ireland, said public opinion is shifting — even in areas where the tradition was once accepted. 'No tradition should involve causing pain and suffering to an animal,' he said. The bill, introduced by People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger, seeks to amend the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 to state explicitly that 'fox hunting and related practices are banned and therefore cannot be considered as lawful hunting.' Mr Lawes added: 'It's a cruel and barbaric practice; it's a left-over from colonial times and now most people don't want to see fox hunting continue. We want it banned.' 'England has had the ban in for a couple of years and we need to do the same. This practice has no place in the 21st century.' He also confirmed plans to propose a local motion, following the example of Fingal County Council, which recently adopted a measure prohibiting hunting on council-owned land. 'There was a motion passed in Fingal to ban hunting on council land, and I'll be bringing a similar motion before Meath County Council,' he said. A Red C poll found that 77pc of the population wants fox hunting banned, including 74pc in rural areas. The Leas-Cathaoirleach of the Navan district added that not everybody in the farming or rural community supports fox hunting.
Agriland
7 days ago
- 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).
