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"Animals need to be protected" says Minister who facilitates Ireland's worst cruelty
28 August 2015
"Animals need to be respected and protected in Ireland," declared Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney during a TV3 news report about a dog brutally attacked in Cork. A remarkably hollow and hypocritical statement from a politician who facilitates the country's worst acts of cruelty.
Thanks to Minister Coveney's refusal to ban foxhunting, foxes are terrorised across the countryside with packs of hounds and ripped apart when caught. Hares are netted and used as live bait for greyhounds, due to his failure to outlaw coursing. In 2013, he had an historic opportunity to save wildlife from bloodsports barbarity but instead, he moved to ensure that the cruelty continued. His Animal Health and Welfare Act contains an exemption for foxhunters and hare coursers which allows them to carry on without fear of prosecution.
He must also take some responsibility for the pain inflicted by terriermen - sadists who find fun in sending terriers underground to attack cornered foxes. Although initially condemning this bloody horror as "unacceptable", the Minister later did a U-turn and announced he wouldn't be banning it.
He also made it clear that he has no intention of banning fur farming. Every day, thousands of mink can be seen throwing themselves against the bars of their cages in futile attempts to get free. Rather than following other countries and phasing out this shameful industry, Simon Coveney presented a farcical code of practice which advises fur farmers to "be respectful of the mink". Respectful as they pull the squealing creatures from the cages, gas them to death with carbon monoxide and tug the fur from their bones.
Despite being a "protected species", badgers are victims too. Coveney and his Department are behind the cruel snaring of thousands of these animals as part of a failed TB Eradication scheme. The badgers struggle frantically in the snares until a Department operative arrives and, with the blessing of Minister Coveney, shoots them in the head.
Ireland's animals certainly do need respect and protection. Primarily from a merciless Minister and his compassionless cohorts in government.
ACTION ALERT
Contact Minister Simon Coveney today and urge him to remove exemptions for hare coursing and foxhunting from the Animal Health and Welfare Act. Urge him to immediately act to ban terrierwork, digging-out and fur farming and end his department's shameful badger snaring scheme.
Simon Coveney, TD
Minister for Agriculture
Department of Agriculture
Agriculture House,
Kildare Street, Dublin 2.
Email: minister@agriculture.gov.ie
Tel: 01-607 2000 or LoCall 1890-200510.
Fax: 01-661 1013.
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SimonCoveney
Tweet to: @simoncoveney
Tweet to @simoncoveney
PETITIONS – PLEASE SIGN AND SHARE WIDELY
Ban Blood Sports in Ireland Now
https://www.change.org/petitions/ban-blood-sports-in-ireland
Minister Coveney: Save Irish hares from cruel coursing
https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/minister-simon-coveney-replace-hare-coursing-with-drag-coursing
Ban digging-out and terrierwork
https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/irish-government-save-foxes-and-dogs-from-horrific-cruelty
Ban fur farming in Ireland
https://www.change.org/petitions/ban-fur-farming-in-ireland-please-sign-and-share-our-petition
Ireland: Stop badger snaring cruelty NOW
https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/irish-agriculture-minister-simon-coveney-stop-badger-snaring-cruelty-now
Agriculture Minister: Please Ban Extremely cruel practices under Animal Welfare Law
https://www.change.org/p/ireland-s-agriculture-minister-please-ban-extremely-cruel-practices-under-animal-welfare-law
Videos: The bloodsports Simon Coveney allows to continue
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