Eamon O Cuiv TD says he does not agree with anti-hunt lobby

Eamon O Cuiv TD against digging out and terrierwork
14 November 2012

ICABS has welcomed a statement from Eamon O Cuiv TD that he does not agree with the digging out of animals or the use of terriers to attack animals that have gone to ground. The Galway West TD expressed his opposition to these cruel activities during the Committee Stage of the Animal Health and Welfare Bill on 8th November.

Addressing Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney, Deputy O Cuiv stated: "Will [the Minister] explain whether the use of canines for the hunting of any animal, digging out of any wild mammal gone to ground and the use of terriers to attack and extract the wild mammal above or below ground, is legally permissible? The Bill provides that unnecessary cruelty is not permitted. Is that issue covered in the Bill? I do not agree with that particular procedure but I do not have a problem with normal hunting. Nature can be quite cruel but that appears to be going too far. If the Bill is passed, will the digging out of foxes be legally permissible, given the other terms about cruelty to animals?"

In reply, Minister Coveney referred to the possibility of introducing a code of conduct for terriermen - a move ICABS views as absurd, given the inherent cruelty of digging out and terrierwork.

"The idea of a 'code of conduct' for an activity that is inherently and intrinsically cruel is nothing short of bizarre," we have told the Minister. "Digging out a fox that is trying to save its life by going to ground, and using terriers to flush the animal out, is cruel, by any basic standard of cruelty. It is inhumane on every level. It must not be allowed to continue under the new legislation." Read the full reply

ICABS is urging Deputy O Cuiv to reconsider his stance on foxhunting and coursing which, we have told him, also cause terrible suffering to our wildlife. Join us in renewing our appeal to Minister Coveney to introduce a full ban on digging out, terrierwork, foxhunting, coursing and all forms of cruelty to animals.

ACTION ALERT

Thank Eamon O Cuiv TD for speaking out against terrierwork and digging out. Urge him to recognise the cruelty inherent in hunting and coursing and support efforts to secure a ban on these.

Eamon O Cuiv TD
Constituency Office
Kirwin House, Flood St.
Galway

Telephone: 091-562846
Mobile: 087-7711161
Fax: 091-562844
Email: eamon.ocuiv@oireachtas.ie

URGENT ACTION ALERT

Contact Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney now and demand that a hunting/coursing exemption is removed from the Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012 and that a full ban on digging out and terrierwork is introduced.

Minister Simon Coveney
Department of Agriculture
Agriculture House,
Kildare Street, Dublin 2.
Email: minister@agriculture.gov.ie
CC: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie (An Taoiseach)
Tel: 01-607 2884 or LoCall 1890-200510.
Fax: 01-661 1013.

Dear Minister Coveney,

I support the Irish Council Against Blood Sports' call on you to ensure that digging out and terrier work are among the activities outlawed under the new Animal Health and Welfare Bill. These horrendous acts of cruelty are carried out by sadistic individuals and also by merciless foxhunting groups. There is absolutely no excuse for this shameful animal abuse.

I urge you to ensure that the new Bill makes it an offence to dig out any animal, an offence to send terriers or other dogs below ground to catch or attack animals under any circumstances and an offence to use a pack of hounds to harass, attack, injure and/or kill any animal. I also urge you to outlaw hare coursing.

Thank you. I look forward to your positive response.

Yours sincerely,

[Name/Location]

Please also contact your local TDs and urge them to support legislation to ban blood sports.

Email TDs from: www.contact.ie/contact-national-politicians
Or find out individual email addresses of TDs on the Irish Government Website

Write to your TDs at:
Dáil Éireann, Leinster House
Kildare Street, Dublin 2.

Eamon O Cuiv TD says he does not agree with anti-hunt lobby
25 September 2012

Galway West TD, Eamon O Cuiv has shamefully told the Dail that he does not agree with the anti-bloodsports lobby and that it's right that a ban on hunting and coursing is not included in the new Animal Welfare Bill. The Fianna Fail politician was previously on record as saying that he would support the abolition of coursing.

He made his latest statement on the issue during a Dail Eireann discussion on the Animal Health and Welfare Bill.

ACTION ALERT

Urge Eamon O Cuiv TD to reconsider his current stance on cruelty to animals.

Eamon O Cuiv TD
Constituency Office
Kirwin House, Flood St.
Galway

Telephone: 091-562846
Mobile: 087-7711161
Fax: 091-562844
Email: eamon.ocuiv@oireachtas.ie

Eamon O Cuiv's 1992 anti-coursing letter

Videos: The cruelty of blood sports in Ireland