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Gormley trying to secure "eventual abolition of hare coursing"
22 September 2009 The Sunday Independent has reported that Green Party leader and Environment Minister, John Gormley, may be trying to secure an "eventual abolition of hare coursing" as part of discussions with Fianna Fail over continued support. The newspaper outlined that Minister Gormley's recent renewal of a coursing licence was done "with a heavy heart" and that it is believed that he may now be endeavouring to secure a ban. "Fianna Fail and the Greens are negotiating a compromise over Nama -- the largest, most controversial fiscal outlay in the history of the State," the report stated. "The Sunday Independent has learned that a large group of FF back-benchers now believe that one of the key prices Greens' leader John Gormley will attempt to extract from Taoiseach Brian Cowen for his party's continued support is the eventual abolition of hare coursing." The Sunday Independent report appears below... URGENT ACTION ALERTS Please send the following message to both Minister John Gormley and Taoiseach Brian Cowen: "I am one of the Irish majority who wants an urgent ban on hare coursing. Please act now to end this cruel blood sport"
Minister John Gormley
Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
An Taoiseach, Brian Cowen
Please also contact your local TDs/Senators and urge them to support your calls for a ban on coursing and other blood sports. Encourage them to contact Minister Gormley and Taoiseach Brian Cowen to express their backing for a ban.
Write to your TD at:
Write to your Senator at:
For the names and contact details of politicians, please visit the Irish Government Website at:
TDs plan to block any bloodsports ban
Sunday Independent
Fianna Fail and the Green Party are set on a collision course over the belief held by significant elements of the senior government party that their Green colleagues are "plotting'' to use the new Programme for Government negotiations to abolish blood-sports such as hare coursing. Fianna Fail and the Greens are negotiating a compromise over Nama -- the largest, most controversial fiscal outlay in the history of the State. However, the Sunday Independent has learned that a large group of FF back-benchers now believe that one of the key prices Greens' leader John Gormley will attempt to extract from Taoiseach Brian Cowen for his party's continued support is the eventual abolition of hare coursing. Last week, the Environment Minister signed an order allowing coursing clubs to net hares for the forthcoming season. However, Mr Gormley made it clear that he had made the decision with a heavy heart. Speaking to the Sunday Independent, Fianna Fail back-bench TD Ned O'Keeffe warned the Greens that any attempt to abolish "rural pursuits'' such as hare coursing "by stealth'' will be "vigorously resisted''. Complaint to Fianna Fail over Ned O'Keeffe's pro-coursing comment In a letter of complaint to Fianna Fail's Head Office, ICABS has condemned a pro-coursing comment from Cork East TD, Ned O'Keeffe. The politician openly expressed support for the blood sport in the Sunday Independent and said any attempt by the Green Party to ban it would be resisted. "Defending animal cruelty is shameful and unacceptable," we told Fianna Fail. ACTION ALERT Please join our appeal to Fianna Fail to act on the Irish public's desire to see coursing and other blood sports banned.
Fianna Fail Head Office
SAMPLE LETTER
Video: Coursing cruelty
More information about hare coursing
Coursing: Leaflet | Photos | Videos | Petition
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