General Election 2016 - Where do the candidates stand on animal cruelty issues?

'The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated' - Mahatma Gandhi
'Ultimately a great nation is a compassionate nation' - Martin Luther King

Before voting in the general election on Friday 26th February, read our guide to the candidates and where they stand on animal cruelty issues. Please make your vote count for the animals.

NOTES:
Individual candidate views may differ from official party policies, to which members are expected to follow in Dail Eireann. Click on the link to view party policies in relation to animal issues. Help us expand this list - let us know about responses you receive from candidates. If you are a candidate and wish to be included in this list, please get in touch with us now.

CORK SOUTH WEST

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Cllr Alan Coleman (Fianna Fail, Cork County Council)
"I support rural activities, particularly the hunts that are engaged in foxhunting. I don't have an involvement myself but do give permission for my lands to be hunted." from an email to ICABS, June 2014.

Jim Daly, TD (Fine Gael, Cork South West):
In March 2013, Jim Daly voted against amendments to the Animal Health and Welfare Bill which sought to secure a ban on some of Ireland's worst acts of cruelty to animals - foxhunting, hare coursing, digging out, terrierwork, ferreting, badger culling, fur farming and the use of animals in circus performances.

Noel Harrington, TD (Fine Gael, Cork South West):
In March 2013, Noel Harrington voted against amendments to the Animal Health and Welfare Bill which sought to secure a ban on some of Ireland's worst acts of cruelty to animals - foxhunting, hare coursing, digging out, terrierwork, ferreting, badger culling, fur farming and the use of animals in circus performances.

Michael McCarthy, TD (Labour, Cork South West):
"To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when a decision will issue on a deer hunting licence application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter." Dail Question, 6th October 2011.

Cork TD Michael McCarthy who was last week slammed for playing a cruel pizza delivery prank on Mattie McGrath has been challenged by ICABS after he returned correspondence in which we urged him to back a ban on Ireland's worst animal cruelty. As part of our campaign to outlaw foxhunting, the digging out of foxes and the use of terriers to flush them out, we wrote to every single Minister, TD and Senator in the Oireachtas, appealing to them to support an amendment to ban this barbarity in the new Animal Health & Welfare Bill. To leave no doubt about the suffering involved, we enclosed photographs of injured Irish dogs and foxes. Instead of expressing sympathy for the plight of the animals and offering to help, the Cork South West Labour TD, put our letter and photographs back into an envelope and sent them back. His accompanying curt message was: "If the purpose of this letter was to get my attention, then it worked. Very distasteful. Michael."

Cllr Margaret Murphy O’Mahony (Fianna Fail, Cork South West)
Fianna Fail councillor Margaret Murphy O’Mahony also leant her support to the [anti-circus] motion, pointing out it was not natural for animals to be forced to dance or sit on chairs. “It’s the threat of physical punishment which makes them do it,” she said. (Source: Irish Examiner, June 10, 2014)

Fiona O'Leary (Independent, Cork South West)
"Yes I am in favour of a ban on foxhunting, hare coursing and all blood sports! I am completely against all blood sports and do not view torturing and murdering an animal as a sport! I adore animals and support your campaign to end this cruelty." from an email to ICABS, January 2016.

Johnny O’Mahony (Green Party, Cork South West):
"I oppose fox hunting and hare coursing as is stated in Green Party policy" from a tweet to ICABS, February 2016.

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