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.

GALWAY EAST

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Ciaran Cannon, TD (Fine Gael, Galway East):
In March 2013, Ciaran Cannon voted against an amendment to the Animal Health and Welfare Bill which sought to secure a ban on fur farming in Ireland.

Paul J Connaughton, TD (Fine Gael, Galway East):
In March 2013, Paul J Connaughton 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.

"I acknowledge the need to protect and enhance the Irish horse and greyhound industries." Paul Connaughton, Betting (Amendment) Bill 2013 Dáil debate, 16 January 2014.

Cllr Michael Fahy (Independent, Galway County Council)
At a meeting of Galway County Council in April 2012, Michael Fahy described a master of the Galway Blazers foxhunt who had died as "an outstanding Irish personality of our time".

Colm Keaveney (Independent [formerly Labour Party], Galway East):
"There is an economic argument for discussing the continuation of the scheme. If my figures are correct, last year we exported almost 115,000 animals abroad under live export. In terms of the cost of that scheme over a five year reference period, is it correct to state that it was a €26 million scheme? Let us suppose the average revenue secured for the cost of an animal was €1,000. That represents almost €115 million to the local economy in terms of the potential spend vis-à-vis the cost of the scheme. There is a solid economic argument we should consider in this area." Colm Keaveney TD, Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees, 25 October 2012.

Aengus Melia (Direct Democracy Ireland, Galway East):
"I am completely in favour of banning bloodsports." from an email to ICABS, February 2016.

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