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Animal Voice, Issue 04, April 2014
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In this month's edition:
01. Join the protest against animal cruelty - Friday, 16th May, 12-2pm
01. Join the protest against animal cruelty - Friday, 16th May, 12-2pm
On Friday 16th May, Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney will host an animal welfare conference to explain the contents of the new Animal Welfare Act, which has recently come into law. Please join a protest outside Dublin Castle which will spotlight the failure of the legislation to outlaw some of Ireland's worst acts of cruelty.
Minister Coveney is quite proud of the new Animal Welfare Act which he says will modernise many existing laws and make them fit for purpose in the 21st century. But there is a glaring omission in this new Act which Minister Coveney should be thoroughly ashamed of - his decision to continue to exempt the cruel bloodsports of hare coursing and fox hunting from prosecution.
These activities have no place in the 21st century, and Minister Coveney should realise that, but a few votes from the minority who engage in this cruelty are more important than doing the right thing, it seems.
ICABS is joining other groups from around Ireland for a peaceful protest outside the Dame Street entrance to Dublin Castle on 16th May from 12 midday to 2pm. Please make a special effort to be there to help send a clear message to Minister Coveney that bloodsports and all cruelty to animals must be outlawed.
When: Friday, 16th May 2014 from 12 midday to 2pm
02. Local Elections 2014: Candidates and Animal Issues
Where do local and European election candidates stand on foxhunting, hare coursing and other animal cruelty issues? Find out in our special guide to election candidates at www.banbloodsports.com/le2014.htm
If your local candidates are not included in our list, please get in touch with them now, ask them what their position is on bloodsports and let us know their responses.
Please choose compassionate candidates on Friday 23rd May.
03. Death of ICABS campaigner, Pat Patterson
The untimely death occurred this month of Pat Patterson, The Walk, Roscommon. Pat had a long-involvement with ICABS, as a Director, and held the position of Treasurer for many years.
He was a committed campaigner and was part of a delegation to the Dail some years ago, when we made a submission against bloodsports to the committee on wildlife.
He was also a member of a delegation that addressed the Euro Group on Animal Welfare at the European Parliament.
His excellent letters, highlighting the cruelty of bloodsports, appeared regularly in the letters pages of the national newspapers.
He will be very sadly missed.
ICABS extends deepest sympathy to his family, relatives and friends.
Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dilis.
04. One in Four urged to reject fundraiser auction that included foxhunting
The Irish Council Against Blood Sports called on the One in Four charity, to disassociate from a fundraiser which included the auctioning of foxhunt outings.
The auction in aid of the sexual abuse support charity invited people to bid on:
As part of an appeal to One in Four to reject the fundraiser, ICABS highlighted videos and images which explicitly show the appalling suffering and death involved in the bloodsport.
One in Four is also being urged to reject foxhunting-related charity rides. This follows a ride in Ballycommon, sponsorships cards and posters for which prominently displayed the North Tipperary Foxhounds' logo.
"We fully understand how difficult it is for Irish charities to fundraise in the present economic climate, but we feel strongly that no charity doing valuable, much needed work should take money from any group associated with or engaged in animal cruelty," ICABS stated in an appeal to One in Four Executive Director, Maeve Lewis.
05. Hunting mag highlights cruelty carnage in Irish countryside
An article in a hardcore British hunting magazine has revealed the carnage being caused in the Irish countryside.
The account of lamping, terrierwork and ferreting exposes the suffering being inflicted on wildlife and the desperate need for our inadequate animal welfare legislation to be expanded to protect foxes from bloodsports.
The Ireland-based hunter behind the Earth Dog Running Dog article recounts a terrierwork session which ended in a fox being caught and killed as it ran for its life.
"One morning that springs to mind is when out with the terriers we came across a small earth that was situated along a ditch," he writes. "Blue [a lurcher] was showing interest around it and we also noticed fresh fox droppings only five yards or so away from one of the entrances. So without wasting any time, my terrier was entered and could be heard sounding just seconds after entering. Blue was going mad with excitement, bouncing from one hole to the other, listening to the sounds underneath. I was standing on top of the ditch so I had a view of both sides if anything was to bolt...and that's what happened."
"The fox bolted and ran along the side of the ditch but Blue was hot on his tail and nailed a fine dog fox," he adds. "I was fairly happy going home that evening as both my dogs worked well as a team..."
In relation to lamping, the article outlines that in addition to being used to catch hundreds of rabbits, the lurcher was also brought out to cruelly catch foxes - "In his second season on the lamp, I introduced him to mister fox. He showed great interest in them putting in some fine strikes after a long twisting chase. I only took ten foxes with him on the lamp that season...As soon as September comes around, we will be out with the terriers, ferrets and out on the lamp as much as possible. He will get plenty of opportunities to shine...he is not a world beater of a dog but he suits me and give me good sport and I'm pretty sure that's all the matters."
Other creatures persecuted were those living on local bog land - "every time I come here during the hunting season, I always let the lurcher run loose as it is good sport watching him hunt up and get a chase and maybe a kill for himself."
The report ends by noting that "this article is from Ireland - the Hunting Act outlaws much of this activity in the UK" - a reminder of the shameful refusal by the Irish Government to protect our wildlife from this vile abuse.
ACTION ALERT
Sign our petition: "Irish Government: Save foxes and dogs from horrific cruelty"
Contact the Minister for Agriculture
Minister Simon Coveney
Dear Minister,
I support the Irish Council Against Blood Sports' call on you to urgently outlaw both digging out and terrierwork. These horrendous acts of cruelty are carried out by sadistic individuals and also by merciless foxhunting groups (when terrified foxes try to find refuge underground). There is absolutely no excuse whatsoever for this shameful animal abuse and it must be stopped.
Please make it an offence NOW to dig out any animal or send terriers below ground to catch and attack animals under any circumstances. I also call on you to outlaw the use of packs of hounds to harass, attack, injure and/or kill any animal.
Thank you, Minister. I look forward to your positive response.
[Your Name and Location]
06. Appeal to Taoiseach and Tanaiste to ban hare coursing
The Irish Council Against Blood Sports is renewing its call on Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore to urgently introduce a ban on hare coursing.
Both men have previously expressed opposition to the bloodsport, with Enda Kenny on record as saying "I am opposed to the practice of live hare coursing" and Eamon Gilmore stating "I am opposed to the blood sports of badger baiting, cock fighting, dog fighting, hare coursing and stag hunting."
In a letter of appeal, ICABS reminded them that hares are continuing to suffer and die in coursing and that a ban in long overdue.
"It is now time for the government here to follow Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales in banning this cruel activity which brings shame on our country and undermines the credibility of our new animal welfare legislation," we stated.
Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney had a golden opportunity to outlaw coursing when animal welfare legislation was being updated last year, after a hundred years, but he chose to continue to exempt hare coursing and fox hunting from prosecution in the new Act.
ACTION ALERT
Join us in urging Enda Kenny and Eamon Gilmore to introduce a ban on hare coursing.
An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny
An Tanaiste, Eamon Gilmore
Contact all your local TDs now. Tell them you are one of the majority who want coursing banned. Remind them that coursing is already illegal in Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales. Urge them to respect the wishes of the majority of the electorate and back a ban.
07. Senator concerned about "integrity" of hare coursing
A Labour Party Senator who is concerned about the "integrity" of Ireland's shameful hare coursing has been told that there is no integrity in snatching timid hares from the wild and using them as lures for dogs.
In a statement posted on the Labour Party website, Tipperary Senator Denis Landy raised the issue of the doping of greyhounds used in hare coursing and called on the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Tom Hayes, to include hare coursing in an Indecon enquiry into the greyhound industry. This followed revelations that six greyhounds had been doped at the national coursing finals in Clonmel in February.
"Speaking in Seanad Eireann this week, Senator Landy said that this practice is harmful to dogs, to the welfare of the industry and to the thousands of coursing enthusiasts around the country and abroad," the statement outlined, quoting Landy as saying "This is a totally unacceptable situation - genuine dog breeders, owners and enthusiasts are seeing their sport destroyed by this activity. There should be measures in place to deal with this blatant malpractice. Measures must be implemented to eradicate doping from this sport. The issue should be tackled head on through a combination of more severe punishments for those found guilty and expansion of drug testing to include all events."
He went on to say that doping must be eradicated "from all facets of the greyhound industry" to ensure "a high quality greyhound industry of which we can all be proud".
"It is vital that the livelihoods of all those involved with greyhounds are protected and the integrity of the sport assured," he added.
"Integrity" is not a word that in any way fits with the barbaric activity of hare coursing.
In a letter to Senator Landy, ICABS stated: "We ask you to recognise that hare coursing is animal cruelty, devoid of the integrity you refer to and wholly unworthy of being classed as something of which 'we can all be proud'. The facts are that hare coursing is not a "sport", it brings shame on Ireland, not pride, and a majority of the electorate want it outlawed as it already is in our neighbouring jurisdictions of Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales."
"There should be no doping in coursing, because there should be no coursing," we told Senator Landy.
ACTION ALERT
Contact Senator Landy and the Labour Party and urge them to act not on behalf of those involved in hare coursing but on behalf of the majority of the electorate who want hare coursing made illegal.
Senator Denis Landy
The Labour Party
Sign our petition - Save Irish hares from cruel coursing
Join us in urging Enda Kenny and Eamon Gilmore to introduce a ban on hare coursing.
An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny
An Tanaiste, Eamon Gilmore
Contact all your local TDs now. Tell them you are one of the majority who want coursing banned. Remind them that coursing is already illegal in Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales. Urge them to respect the wishes of the majority of the electorate and back a ban.
08. Cassidy Travel thanked for removing bullfight reference
Irish travel company, Cassidy Travel, has been thanked by ICABS for removing a reference to bullfighting from its website.
Following an ICABS appeal in which we highlighted the cruelty of bullfighting, Cassidy Travel deleted "bullfights" from its Seville Holidays page.
The company's response is a big help to our ongoing campaign to encourage holidaymakers to avoid visiting bullrings.
A big thumbs up to Cassidy Travel for its compassionate move. Find out more about its 200 destinations and 100,000 discounted hotels, apartments and villas at http://www.cassidytravel.ie
Cassidy Travel joins a growing list of companies which have responded positively to ICABS appeals and removed references to bullfighting or bullrings. These include American Airlines, EasyJet, Jet2holidays, Marriott International, Hilton Hampton, Ebookers, Club Travel, Abbey Travel, Sunways, Low Cost Holidays.ie, Travel Department, Cancun Holidays Information Center, Co-op Travel, Ultimate Travel, No Fly Cruising, City Breaks 101, Original Travel, Escape Trips, Charter Travel, NY.T.Roma Hotel, Exclusive GP, Just Resorts, IceLolly and Travelagent.ie.
ACTION ALERT
Join our appeal to other companies to remove bullfighting from their websites. Check out our latest anti-bullfighting Action Alerts
Sign our petition
If you choose to holiday in a bullfighting country (Spain, France, Portugal, Mexico, Peru, Venezuela), please do not visit bullfighting arenas or museums. Avoid purchasing any bullfight-related souvenirs. Join the international campaign against bullfighting. Please register your opposition to this horrific blood sport with the governments and political representatives of bullfighting countries as well as to the local Ambassadors.
Contact the Spanish Ambassador to Ireland to register your opposition to bullfighting. Express your desire to see bullfighting banned throughout all of Spain.
The Spanish Ambassador to Ireland
Email: emb.dublin@maec.es
09. Travelagent.ie thanked for deleting reference to bullfight
Travel agent and tour operator, Travelagent.ie, has been thanked by ICABS for removing a bullfighting reference from its website.
Agreeing that bullfighting is "an extremely cruel and violent activity", the Cork-based company deleted the reference to bullfights in Malaga.
A big thumbs up to Travelagent.ie for its compassionate move. Find out more about its travel arrangement services at http://www.travelagent.ie/
10. Hospice Foundation thanked for dropping bullfight-themed images
The Irish Council Against Blood Sports has thanked the Irish Hospice Foundation for removing bullfighting-themed images and a reference to Pamplona bullrun from its website.
The content was part of a page promoting the Foundation's San Sebastian to Barcelona Spanish Cycle Challenge which takes place from July 19th to 25th.
We applaud this move to disassociate from bullfighting and bullrunning, given the horrific animal cruelty involved and, in the case of the latter, the risk of serious injuries to humans (there have been at least 13 fatalities in Pamplona to-date).
For more information on the Irish Hospice Foundation's Spanish Cycle fundraiser, visit www.hospicefoundation.ie
11. IceLolly thanked for removing bullfight reference from Madrid guide
Holiday price comparison site, IceLolly, has been thanked for removing a reference to bullfighting from its website.
Following an ICABS appeal in which we highlighted the cruelty of bullfighting, the popular site deleted bullfighting from its "Madrid: An Insider's Guide".
The company's response is a big help to our ongoing campaign to encourage holidaymakers to avoid visiting bullrings.
A big thumbs up to IceLolly for its compassionate move.
12. Anti-fur protests - May 2nd and 3rd
The National Animal Rights Association will hold an anti-fur protest on Saturday 3rd May outside 'Vasa Ltd', Ireland's largest fur farm, in Co Laois.
Find out more at https://www.facebook.com/events/1439795409598422
An anti-fur protest will also be held outside Barnardo Furs (108 Grafton Street, Dublin 2) on Friday 2nd May from 1pm - 3pm.
Witness the cruelty of fur farming in Ireland at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8N77XURIVA
13. Demand custodial sentence for N. Ireland animal cruelty
Four men in Belfast have been convicted of animal cruelty for allowing a cat to be torn to pieces by a dog. While the men have admitted their crime and been ruled guilty, they have avoided jail and been given six-month suspended sentences.
The Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says the savagery an innocent animal suffered is "wickedness at its worst".
Please demand a custodial sentence for the four men in Belfast. Sign the petitions now -
14. Poetry: A Fox’s Life in Modern Day Ireland
A Fox’s Life in Modern Day Ireland
After a swig of sherry the hunt commences,
15. Former Greyhound Board chief's dog tests positive for banned drugs
Former Greyhound Board chief's dog tests positive for banned drugs
A dog run by the family of a former chief executive of the Irish Greyhound Board tested positive for two banned substances after its win at the Coursing Derby.
Kyle Calvin, trained by Michael Field and owned by his wife Marie, won Eur35,000 when he landed the most prestigious event at February’s National Meeting in Clonmel.
After the race, Mr Field told the internet channel Irishtv.ie he had also placed a "nice little" pre-tournament bet on the dog when it was listed at odds of 40-1. He said winning the event was "a dream of dreams".
Subsequently, a certificate from the National Laboratory said a sample taken from the derby winner during the meeting had shown traces of ephedrine and phenylpropanolamine. Both are banned stimulants.
Mr Field was chief executive of the IGB between September 1997 and March 2003. He is also a former principal at Ard Scoil Rís in Limerick.
After the derby, Mr Field told the Sporting Press Kyle Calvin had been withdrawn from training for stud duties for a number of months to capitalise on demand.
Mr Field was contacted about the certificate yesterday. He said it was a matter for the Irish Coursing Club.
"I do not wish to make further comment," he said.
Since late February, both he and his wife have been contacted by the Irish Examiner regarding speculation that their dog tested positive. However, on each occasion, they had not been informed of any negative result or the potential of one by the ICC.
Last week, the ICC confirmed that six dogs had tested positive for banned substances at the meeting.
A hearing committee will now be appointed and, in all likelihood, B samples will be screened by an independent laboratory.
After the meeting, Boylesports, the derby’s sponsor, and Paddy Power, said they had lost heavily on the derby outcome. In part this was because the perception was that Kyle Calvin had suffered greatly in the semi-final and was considered a major doubt for the final.
After the win, the dog’s recovery was described as "quite astonishing by any standards" by IGB’s official reporter Michael Fortune.
A report in the Sporting Press said the dog had been expected to be withdrawn but instead had produced "one of the bravest and gamiest performances ever seen at Powerstown Park".
Under ICC rule 88, the owners of dogs deemed to have raced with a banned substance, after a hearing committee considers the case, are liable for Eur2,000 fine, disqualification, and forfeiture of prize money.
16. Michael Healy-Rae TD pushing for cull of seals
Healy-Rae: Seal cull ‘badly needed’ to protect west coast fishing industry
The effect of a growing number of seals on the west coast of Ireland on the fishing industry has reached the stage where a cull is needed, a TD has said.
However, animal welfare and fishing in industry representatives say such a move would be ‘premature’, and authorities should await the analysis of a reports into the animals presence in Irish coastal waters.
The ISPCA says there is "no evidence" to suggest that seals are having an effect.
Deputy Michael Healy-Rae made the call earlier this month to the Minister Jimmy Deenihan, who has responsibility for the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
The Kerry South TD stressed that there would be "no joy" in such a move.
"I would be all for the protection of wildlife, such as seals," he told TheJournal.ie, " but this is affecting fishermens’ livelihoods."
"Management of seal populations will also require careful consideration of recently published studies from Bord Iascaigh Mhara and the Marine Institute concerning seal depradation (fish eaten by seals during fisheries operations) and bycatch of seals in set nets," Minister Deenihan said.
He added that a license to hunt seal can be sought where damage is being caused.
"This redress is available to individual fishermen to control damage to fisheries by seals at particular locations," the Minister noted.
The Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation echoed Healy-Rae’s concerns for fishermen, but instead recommended that some form of "management measures" need to put in place to protect the fishing industry.
CEO Eibhlin O’Sullivan said that options including putting measures which either physically block the seals from some areas, or alter their behaviour.
She noted that many fishermen have experienced problems related to seals, either through damage to nets and other equipment, and called it a "serious and complex issue".
Some fisherman have faced entire catches being rendered useless by seals.
While seals have been to blame for many of these incidents, the ISPCA believes the animal is being "scapegoat-ed".
The animal welfare charity’s CEO Dr Andrew Kelly said there is "no evidence" that seals are affecting the fishing industry.
"Until that study has been done," he said, "there’s little point for calling for a cull."
In mid-2012, two seal heads were found at the gates of the Dingle Wildlife and Seal Sanctuary, with "RIP CULL" and "RIP I AM HUNGRY" written beneath.
A number of other seals were found shot dead on the west coast in 2012, months after Deputy Healy-Rae warned Minister for the Environment that a cull was needed.
www.thejournal.ie/healy-rae-seal-cull-fishing-industry-ireland-west-1327196-Feb2014/
"We had sheep on the farm for many years, never saw a fox brave enough to take on a ewe with a lamb, I get quite fed up with farmers who have bad husbandry and therefore lose stock and blame it on the wildlife. Get out and find yourself something you are good at, would be my advice." from a comment by Peeved, in response to Telegraph article "Ban on fox hunting could be relaxed after all", 29 March 2014
Coveney added that his department will also be introducing codes of conduct in relation to bloodsports to "ensure that when linked to hunting for example, when a fox is dug out of the ground, that there’s a code that has to be abided by". from Minister Coveney doesn’t like fur farming but he’s not banning it, Journal.ie July 20 2013
Dungannon man and former Tyrone GAA star, Gerard Cavlan, has appeared before the local Magistrates Court on a charge of interfering with a badger sett. The 38 year-old, from Willows Gardens, appeared alongside Shane Loughran, 33, of Clonmeen Cottages, also Dungannon. The men are accused of intentionally or recklessly obstructing access to a badger sett contrary to the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985. Cavlan won an All Ireland medal with Tyrone in 2003. Tyrone Times, 11 April 2014.
"I am completely against animal cruelty in all its forms. I am a vegetarian and I oppose both foxhunting and hare coursing. It is an issue that is very close to my heart." Cllr Jim McGarry (Labour Party, Sligo County Council) in an email to ICABS, April 2014. Find out the views of other election candidates at www.banbloodsports.com/le2014.htm
No sport, no integrity
This week Senator Denis Landy (Labour) raised the issue of doping of greyhounds in racing and hare coursing in the Senate, following on the revelation that six greyhounds had been doped at the national finals of hare coursing in Clonmel in February. He said that doping of greyhounds should be eradicated to assure the "integrity" of the "sport" of hare coursing.
"Integrity" is not a word that fits with the barbaric sport of hare coursing where timid hares are snatched from the wild in nets and used as live lures in an activity that has its origins in the Roman amphitheatres, and which is now banned in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, leaving our Republic as the last bastion of this indefensible cruelty.
Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney had a golden opportunity to outlaw this cruel sport when animal welfare legislation was being updated last year, after a hundred years, but he chose to continue to exempt hare coursing and fox hunting from prosecution in the new Act. Hopefully we will not have to wait another century for an end to the persecution of our wildlife.
Aideen Yourell
We all need to be humane towards animals
Local election candidates are setting out their views to voters.
The well-rehearsed issues are trotted out, but animal welfare is never mentioned.
Local politicians have failed to embrace this issue.
Attempts by lobby groups to raise animal welfare at local political level have met with cowardice and hostility. Fossilised politicians cannot comprehend fair treatment of the non-human members of our society.
We need better animal-welfare legislation. I appeal to readers to raise the issue of animal welfare with local election candidates.
Ask them what they are doing to put animal-welfare issues on the political agenda. If they respond by saying human welfare is their priority and animals are for us to use, tell them they have lost your vote.
Animal welfare and human welfare are entwined. How we treat the non-humans members of society is a reflection on how we treat humans.
Elections candidates who align their campaign with animal welfare will reap the political reward.
By voting for compassionate candidates, you are giving a voice to the voiceless.
John Tierney
Blood sport only supported by SF
Following publication of a letter in the Belfast Telegraph (Write Back, March 18) on the subject of Sinn Fein's support for live hare coursing — a practice banned in Northern Ireland and in many other jurisdictions, but legal in the Republic — I received a number of emails querying why I singled out Sinn Fein for criticism.
The reason was simple: Sinn Fein is the only party in Northern Ireland that has an official pro hare coursing policy.
None of the other parties supports the setting of hyped-up greyhounds on terrified hares in a wired enclosure. But Sinn Fein fully and shamelessly condones this despicable activity.
Sinn Fein has taken much credit for its effort to ‘take the gun out of Irish politics’. Perhaps it might also consider scrapping its abhorrent policy of supporting one of the most evil blood sports.
John Fitzgerald
19. Dail Questions and Answers
Question 173 - Answered on 16th April, 2014
Maureen O'Sullivan, TD (Dublin Central, Independent): To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to the six greyhounds that participated in this year's National Hare Coursing Festival testing positive for banned substances, if he will have the Irish Coursing Club extend drug testing of greyhounds to all hare coursing events; if he will consider having his Department initiate its own drug testing at these events; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Simon Coveney: The Irish Coursing Club (ICC) is subject to the general control and direction of Bord na gCon, which is the statutory body with responsibility for the improvement and development of the greyhound industry, greyhound racing and coursing.
The ICC introduced new arrangements for the testing of coursing greyhounds for prohibited substances for the 2012/3 coursing season. There were no positive results in the 2012/3 season. 6 positive results were reported in the 2013/4 season which are now being processed by the ICC in accordance with the rules governing such matters. I have been informed that the Executive Committee of the ICC plan to undertake a review of its arrangements for testing for prohibited substances in coursing greyhounds in the near future and the Committee will decide on any changes that need to be made to the testing regime after considering the findings of the review.
Question 394 - Answered on 1st April, 2014
Maureen O'Sullivan TD: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which there is a provision for training Gardaí in the area of animal welfare issues; if he will commit specific Garda personnel for animal welfare; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Minister for Justice and Equality Alan Shatter: I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that training provided to Gardaí included instruction in relation to the Control of Horses and Dogs. This instruction was delivered during the in-service classes students attended at their Divisional Continuous Professional Development Centre.
The approach to learning in the new BA in Applied Policing will ensure that students will continue to be proficient in accessing and identifying the relevant legislation, policy documents etc. to enable them to investigate animal welfare issues.
Question 395 - Answered on 1st April, 2014
Maureen O'Sullivan TD: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of members of the farming community that have been prosecuted for animal abuse and animal neglect; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Minister for Justice and Equality Alan Shatter: The Garda Síochána Act 2005 makes provision for the compilation and publication of crime statistics by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose. I have requested the CSO to provide statistics directly to the Deputy.
Questions 456 and 471 - Answered on 1st April, 2014
Maureen O'Sullivan TD: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an investigation is pending regarding the recent reports of an incident where the carcasses of dead horses were left in a field in Clonmel, County Tipperary, earlier this week until locals became aware of same and that carcasses were then moved to a halting site and put into a shed where staff of the local council found them; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to an incident last week involving the carcasses of dead horses found in a field in Clonmel, County Tipperary and the subsequent removal of the carcasses to a site which was later discovered by local councillors; if he will commit to reinforcing animal protection for horses in view of the burning of a horse in Dublin last November; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Simon Coveney: I propose to take 456 & 471 together.
I understand that South Tipperary County Council received a report over Saint Patrick’s weekend of a horse carcass in a field within its jurisdiction and the Council’s Environmental Section dealt with the matter and had the carcass removed to a local knackery for disposal.
On the general matter of protecting animal welfare, the position is that the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, which I commenced recently, applies to all animals including horses. The Act imposes clear obligations on owners to protect animal welfare and obliges persons with an animal in their possession regardless of whether they are the owner of the animal to not cause unnecessary suffering to or endanger the health or welfare of the animal. The Act provides for increased penalties for offences, with fines of up to Eur5,000 on summary conviction and Eur250,000 and/or imprisonment for up to 5 years on indictment. It also provides for fixed penalty payments for lesser offences.
My Department continues to work closely with the local authorities, the Gardai Siochana and animal welfare bodies with a view to addressing horse welfare issues.
Question 123 - Answered on 27th March, 2014
Maureen O'Sullivan: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of coursing meetings that were monitored by the National Parks and Wildlife Service in the 2013/14 season; if he will release the monitoring reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Mr Jimmy Deenihan, TD: Licences were issued by my Department to the Irish Coursing Club (ICC) on behalf of their affiliated clubs under the Wildlife Acts to facilitate the tagging and capturing of hares for the purpose of hare coursing for the 2013/14 coursing season.
Officials of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department attend coursing meetings, as resources allow, to monitor compliance with the conditions of the licences. I am not in position at this stage to provide a final figure for the number of coursing meetings monitored by my Department during the 2013/14 coursing season as the season finished at the end of last month and not all monitoring reports by regional staff of the NPWS have been finalised yet. Following an examination of these reports they will be released as soon as possible subject to any requirements arising from possible investigations which may be required on foot of the reports.
Ban Blood Sports in Ireland Now
Minister Coveney: Save Irish hares from cruel coursing
Irish Government: Save foxes and dogs from horrific cruelty
Minister Simon Coveney: Ban ALL Tail Docking - No Exemptions
Stop badger snaring cruelty NOW
Stop sponsoring hare coursing in Ireland
Protect the Irish Hare
End Cruel Blood Sport of Fox Hunting in Ireland
Limerick Racecourse: Stop hosting cruel hare coursing
Coillte - Ban hunters from your forests
Drogheda Borough Council: Do not legalise urban 10 seater horse-drawn carriages in County Louth
National Trust - stop allowing hunters and terriermen on your land
Ban Fur Sales on eBay
Stormont Northern Ireland Assembly: Ban Fox and Stag Hunting in Northern Ireland
Ban Torturous Hanging of Greyhounds in Spain
Dunnes Stores: Lift Ban on Animal Charities Fundraising
Arts Council of Ireland: Stop funding animal circuses
Stop the EU funding bullfighting
Stop Torturing Bears: End Bear Bile Farming In China
Add report option "Animal Abuse" on Facebook
End Bullfighting in France
STOP Spain's cruel and barbaric Toro de la Vega
Please make a donation to ICABS
If you like our work, please consider making a donation. The Irish Council Against Blood Sports relies entirely on your generosity to continue our campaigning for an end to blood sport cruelty.
Please become a supporter of our work today - click on the Paypal button at www.banbloodsports.com to make a donation or send a cheque made payable to ICABS to ICABS, PO Box 88, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, Ireland. Thank you very much.
Top ways you can help the campaign
Keep hunters off your land
Make it known publicly that your land is off-limits to hunters. Place a preservation notice in your local newspaper now. Here is a sample notice that you may wish to use: "Take notice that all my lands at [Insert address(es) of land] are private and preserved day and night. All forms of hunting and shooting are strictly prohibited. Trespassers will be prosecuted. Signed [Insert name(s) of landowner]" For more information, click on Farmers at www.banbloodsports.com
Tune in to the ICABS Channel
Footage of blood sport cruelty and the humane alternatives can be viewed
on the ICABS Channel on Youtube - www.youtube.com/icabs or by clicking
on "Videos" at www.banbloodsports.com Please ask your local TD/Senator
to view our videos and back a blood sports ban.
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Make a donation to ICABS
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follow this link to find out how to become a campaign supporter. Thank you.
Campaign newsletter of the Irish Council Against Blood Sports
02. Local Elections 2014: Candidates and Animal Issues
03. Death of ICABS campaigner, Pat Patterson
04. One in Four urged to reject fundraiser auction that included foxhunting
05. Hunting mag highlights cruelty carnage in Irish countryside
06. Appeal to Taoiseach and Tanaiste to ban hare coursing
07. Senator concerned about "integrity" of hare coursing
08. Cassidy Travel thanked for removing bullfight reference
09. Travelagent.ie thanked for deleting reference to bullfight
10. Hospice Foundation thanked for dropping bullfight-themed images
11. IceLolly thanked for removing bullfight reference from Madrid guide
12. Anti-fur protests - May 2nd and 3rd
13. Demand custodial sentence for N. Ireland animal cruelty
14. Poetry: A Fox’s Life in Modern Day Ireland
15. Former Greyhound Board chief's dog tests positive for banned drugs
16. Michael Healy-Rae TD pushing for cull of seals
17. Campaign Quotes
18. Letters to the Editor
19. Dail Questions and Answers
20. Petitions
Where: Outside the Dame Street entrance to Dublin Castle
https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/irish-government-save-foxes-and-dogs-from-horrific-cruelty
Department of Agriculture
Kildare Street, Dublin 2.
Email: minister@agriculture.gov.ie
CC: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie
Tel: +353 (0) 1 607 2000 or LoCall 1890-200510.
Fax: 01-661 1013.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SimonCoveney
Tweet to @simoncoveney
Department of the Taoiseach,
Government Buildings,
Upper Merrion Street,
Dublin 2
Telephone: 01-6194020
Fax: 01-6764048
Office of the Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade,
Iveagh House,
80 St. Stephen's Green,
Dublin 2.
Tel: 01 6183566 (Dail)
Tel: 01 408 2000 (Iveagh House)
Fax: 01 408 2400
Email Enda Kenny and Eamon Gilmore: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie,eamon.gilmore@oireachtas.ie
12 New Street
Carrick-on-Suir
Co Tipperary
Email: denis.landy@oir.ie
CC: info@labour.ie
Tel: 051-641 641
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/denis.landy.3
17 Ely Place,
Dublin 2,
Tel: +353 1 6784700
Fax: +353 1 6612640
Email: info@labour.ie
Department of the Taoiseach,
Government Buildings,
Upper Merrion Street,
Dublin 2
Telephone: 01-6194020
Fax: 01-6764048
Email: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie
Office of the Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade,
Iveagh House,
80 St. Stephen’s Green,
Dublin 2.
Tel: 01 6183566 (Dail)
Tel: 01 408 2000 (Iveagh House)
Fax: 01 408 2400
Email: eamon.gilmore@oir.ie
Travel companies: Stop encouraging holidaymakers to visit bullfights http://www.change.org/petitions/travel-companies-stop-encouraging-holidaymakers-to-visit-bullfights
Embassy of Spain
17A Merlyn Park, Dublin 4.
Tel 1: +353 (0)1 2691640
Tel 2: +353 (0)1 2692597
Fax: +353 (0)1 269 1854
by Ann Ritter
The hunters have got their sights on a female fox
Whose mate they’ve already killed in the name of sport on another occasion.
Now it’s her turn to be chased across open countryside,
Accompanied by the cacophony of hunting horns, hounds baying
And hordes of noisy riders on their galloping horses,
‘The pursuit of the uneatable by the unspeakable’.
Instinctively the vixen leads them away from her lair
Where her newly-born cups are sleeping.
The hunters relentlessly pursue her over the hills
And through meadows, past fences and hedgerows.
Running for her life and pining for her cubs,
She zigzags through a stream in the hope
That the hounds will be thrown off her trail,
But it’s all to no avail.
Cornered, injured and exhausted, she lies on the ground,
Fur covered in blood.
Heart pounding loud and fast with fear, the hounds
Move in for the kill
While the jubilant hunters dressed in their bright red jackets
And black helmets celebrate the end of another successful hunt
In Ireland’s pastures green.
The vixen’s life cruelly snuffed out.
Her helpless cubs are doomed to starve as a consequence.
This is a fox’s life in modern-day Ireland!
Irish Examiner, 21 March 2014
TheJournal.ie, 24 February 2014
Irish Daily Mail, April 22 2014
Irish Council Against Blood Sports
PO Box 88, Mullingar, Co Westmeath
Irish Examiner, April 21, 2014
Campaigns Director Association of Hunt Saboteurs
Dublin 1
Belfast Telegraph, 31st March 2014
Campaign for the Abolition of Cruel Sports
https://www.change.org/petitions/ban-blood-sports-in-ireland
https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/minister-simon-coveney-replace-hare-coursing-with-drag-coursing
https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/irish-government-save-foxes-and-dogs-from-horrific-cruelty
http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/minister-simon-coveney-don-t-allow-hunters-to-cut-off-dogs-tails
https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/irish-agriculture-minister-simon-coveney-stop-badger-snaring-cruelty-now
Petition to Ban horrific Hare Coursing Cruelty in Ireland
http://www.change.org/petitions/stop-sponsoring-hare-coursing-in-ireland#
http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/protect-the-irish-hare
http://forcechange.com/30176/end-cruel-blood-sport-of-fox-hunting-in-ireland/#gf_1
https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/limerick-racecourse-stop-hosting-cruel-hare-coursing
http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/irish-forestry-board-ban-hunters-from-your-property
http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/drogheda-borough-council-do-not-legalise-urban-10-seater-horse-drawn-carriages-in-county-louth
https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/the-national-trust-the-national-trust-stop-supporting-illegal-hunting-on-national-trust-land-2
https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/ban-fur-sales-on-ebay#
http://www.change.org/petitions/stormont-northern-ireland-assembly-ban-fox-and-stag-hunting-in-northern-ireland#
http://forcechange.com/24603/#gf_17
http://www.change.org/petitions/dunnes-supermarket-end-your-ban-on-animal-groups
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/145/615/024/lift-ban-on-animal-charities-fundraising-at-dunnes-stores/
http://www.change.org/petitions/arts-council-of-ireland-stop-funding-animal-circuses
https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/dacian-ciolos-european-agriculture-minister-stop-the-eu-funding-bullfighting#
http://forcechange.com/64173/stop-torturing-bears-end-bear-bile-farming-in-china
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/add-report-option-animal-abuse-on-facebook.html
http://forcechange.com/94113/end-bullfighting-in-france
http://www.change.org/petitions/stop-toro-de-la-vega-2013
Top ways you can help the campaign •
Join our email list and respond to our Action Alerts
•
Become a campaign supporter and make a donation to help fund our efforts
•
Contact your local politicians and ask them to support a ban on blood sports
•
Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and Youtube
•
Sign up for our free text alert service and receive occasional campaign updates to your phone
•
Link to our website and display one of our banners
•
Monitor blood sports meetings in your area and provide us with photos, video and reports.
•
Write a letter to your local newspaper about the cruelty of blood sports
•
Sign and collect signatures for our petitions
•
Organise a fund-raiser to help raise funds for the campaign
•
Set up an online anti-blood sports group to cover your area.
•
Download, print and display our posters and leaflets
•
Set up an information stand at your school/library/youth group/adult group, etc
•
Introduce your friends to our website and encourage them to get involved.
•
Simply keeping your ear to the ground.
about any blood-sport related incidents in your area.
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