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Fine Gael politicians in favour of bloodsports ban
19 June 2015
Fine Gael TDs | Councillors
Bernard Durkan, TD (Fine Gael, Kildare North):
"My views on live hare coursing are fairly well known. In fact, during debates on the subject in the late Eighties and early Nineties, I spoke publicly to the effect that I was opposed to live hare coursing."
Terence Flanagan, TD (Fine Gael, Dublin North-East):
"I support the Irish Council Against Blood Sports' call for the Ward Union hunt to be refused a licence," Deputy Flanagan stated in a letter to Minister John Gormley, October 2007.
Enda Kenny, TD (Fine Gael, Mayo):
During a November 2014 speech in Dail Eireann, Taoiseach Enda Kenny acknowledged that foxhunting is "absolutely disgraceful". Read More
"I am opposed to the practice of live hare coursing." (from an email to ICABS, July 2003)
Sean Kyne, TD (Fine Gael, Galway West):
"To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider encouraging the take-up of drag coursing as an alternative to live hare coursing; and if he will make a statement on the matter." (Dail Question, 24th September 2013)
In March 2012, Deputy Kyne asked the Agriculture Minister "if the upcoming Animal Welfare Bill will contain a provision to abolish live hare coursing in view of the demonstrable evidence of the harm, injury and distress that such a sport causes to the wildlife concerned and also in recognition that such a measure would bring Ireland into line with other developed nations including the UK, several other European nations and Australia."
"I asked the Parliamentary Question on foot of concerns expressed to me by constituents on the cruelty associated with hare coursing. These are concerns which I share and I find it most puzzling when persons harbouring such concerns are labelled as anti-rural. There is nothing 'anti-rural' in seeking the highest standards for animal welfare." from an email to ICABS, March 2012.
Michael Ring, TD (Fine Gael, Mayo):
"I am personally against hare coursing. I am totally opposed to cruelty to animals but particularly this kind of cruelty in relation to blood sports."
Alan Shatter, TD (Fine Gael, Dublin South):
"I am totally opposed to hunting wild animals with dogs."
Cllr Finola Armstrong McGuire (Fine Gael, Leitrim County Council)
"I favour ban [on] all cruelty, man and beast." from a text message to ICABS, November 2014.
Cllr Dr Phyll Bugler (Fine Gael, Tipperary County Council)
"I am opposed to all forms of animal cruelty" from a text message to ICABS, July 2015.
Cllr Anne-Marie Dermody (Fine Gael, South Dublin County)
"I don't get the hunting think and how it could be someone's pleasure!" from a text message to ICABS, May 2014.
Cllr Maria Doyle (Fine Gael, Louth County Council)
"I am most certainly against blood sports." from an email to ICABS, June 2015.
Cllr Mary Fayne (Fine Gael, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council)
"As an animal lover I am of course against blood sports" from a tweet to ICABS, 5th August 2014. In November 2014, she voted against a council motion which described urban foxes as a "problem" and which called for action to be taken to deal with them.
Cllr Enda Flynn (Fine Gael, Meath County Council)
"I do not like to see any animals hurt or in discomfort. I support the thrust of what you are saying." from an email to ICABS, September 2014.
Cllr Mary Hanna Hourigan (Fine Gael, Tipperary County Council)
"I couldn't bear to look at that [hare coursing] footage, it would make me too angry and upset. I fully support your point of view." from an email to ICABS in March 2012.
Cllr Micheal Hourigan (Fine Gael, Limerick City and County Council)
"I am opposed to all forms of animal cruelty." from an email to ICABS, April 2014.
Cllr Marian Hurley (Fine Gael, Limerick City and County Council)
"Yes I am [in favour of a ban on fox hunting and hare coursing]." from a text message to ICABS, November 2014.
Cllr John McCartin (Fine Gael, Leitrim County Council)
"I am very concerned about animal welfare" - from an email to ICABS in 2010.
Cllr Frank McDermott (Fine Gael, Westmeath County Council)
"[Cllr Frank McDermott] said that hunt meetings 'with dozens of foxhounds and horses' can cause more damage in a few minutes than an entire parish would cause in a year and he suggested they be controlled under new bye-laws." Westmeath Topic, 4th June 2015.
Cllr Ruairi McGinley (Fine Gael, Dublin City Council)
"I am against hare coursing but do not have a problem with foxhunting" from a tweet to ICABS, October 2014. ICABS has urged Cllr McGinley to reconsider his stance on foxhunting and sent him information about the terrible cruelty involved.
Cllr Grainne McLoughlin (Fine Gael, Wicklow County Council)
"I am opposed to blood sports. As someone who lives in the country and enjoys watching the annual drag hunting spectacle, there is no excuse for live fox hunting or hare coursing - it is simply disgusting and inhumane." from an email to ICABS, July 2015.
Cllr Joe Neville (Fine Gael, Kildare County Council)
"Absolutely." In response to an ICABS tweet - "We hope you favour a ban on foxhunting and hare coursing which are forms of cruelty to animals" (9th September 2014)
Cllr Keith Redmond (Fine Gael, Fingal County Council)
"Yes [I am in favour of a ban on foxhunting and hare coursing]." from a tweet to ICABS, May 2014.
Cllr John Ryan (Fine Gael, Wicklow County Council)
"I would like to clarify that I am against animal cruelty." from an email to ICABS, April 2014.
Cllr Darren Scully (Fine Gael, Kildare County Council)
"I am against all cruelty to animals, however what one person sees as cruel another sees as an acceptable part of life, many humans in this world are meat eaters and some would argue that it is cruel to kill cattle, deer, or rabbit to consume. I do not think it wrong or cruel to kill animals for consumption as long as it is done in a controlled manner monitored by the relevant state agency. I do think it is wrong to kill animals for sport, in this day and age we can still engage in sport without the need to take life intentionally. I am sure quite a few were not too pleased when the Romans did away with the gladiators." from an email to ICABS, May 2014.
This is a list of Fine Gael politicians who have indicated that they are against bloodsports. Click on the link to see the full list of Fine Gael views (including those in favour of bloodsports). To find out the views of politicians from all parties, please visit our Political Page
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