Workers' Party councillor "fully opposed to hare coursing"
01 December 2015

Dublin City Councillor Eilis Ryan has become the latest in a growing line of politicians to express opposition to cruel hare coursing. Responding to a tweet from ICABS in which we highlighted cruelty to hares at a recent coursing meeting in Balbriggan, the Workers' Party councillor stated that she is "fully opposed to hare coursing".

ICABS has thanked Eilis Ryan for her support. We are urging her and all politicians to push for a ban on Ireland's cruel bloodsports.

The views of members of Dublin City Council

Cllr Chris Andrews (Sinn Fein, Dublin City Council)
In 2010, Chris Andrews TD voted in favour of the ban on carted deer hunting.

Cllr Catherine Ardagh (Fianna Fail, Dublin City Council)
"Yes [I am in favour of a ban on foxhunting and hare coursing]." from a tweet to ICABS, October 2014.

Cllr Janice Boylan (Sinn Fein, Dublin City Council)
"I vote against [hare coursing] at every Ard dheis I've been a delegate at. I am strongly opposed to it." from a tweet to ICABS, Novemer 2015.

"My personal stance is yes, I would favour a ban on this animal cruelty [hare coursing and foxhunting]." from a tweet to ICABS, October 2014.

Cllr Christy Burke (Independent, Dublin City Council)
"I am against any form of animal cruelty." from an email to ICABS, April 2014.

Cllr Cathleen Carney Boud (Sinn Fein, Dublin City Council)
"Yes I am in favour of a ban on blood sports" from a text message to ICABS, June 2015.

Cllr Ciaran Cuffe (Green Party, Dublin City Council)
"I am against all forms of blood sports."

Cllr Daithí Doolan (Sinn Fein, Dublin City Council)
"Blood ‘sports’ are unacceptable & indefensible. I have been against blood ‘sports’ since I was a child. They always struck me as being terribly terribly cruel! I wish you well in campaigning to get them banned. Adh mór." from a message left on ICABS blog, June 2015.

Cllr Pat Dunne (United Left - People Before Profit Alliance, Dublin City Council)
"I am in favour of an end to foxhunting, hare coursing and other forms of cruelty." from an email to ICABS, April 2014.

Cllr Gaye Fagan (Sinn Fein, Dublin City Council)
"It's beyond comprehension how anyone could call [hare coursing and foxhunting] a sport. Cruelty to any animal is totally unacceptable. I totally support a ban on bloodsports." from an email to ICABS, November 2015.

Cllr Mary Freehill (Labour Party, Dublin City Council)
"I'm very much in favour of a ban on foxhunting and hare coursing. Hare coursing in particular is extremely cruel." from a tweet to ICABS, May 2014.

Cllr Gary Gannon (Independent, Dublin City Council)
"I am fully against blood sports in all their forms and would be fully supportive of any Dublin City Council motion which called for a ban on such unnecessary cruelty. "

Cllr Alison Gilliland (Labour Party, Dublin City Council)
"Yes [add me to list of Labour Party politicians in favour of a ban on bloodsports]. No animal should be hunted down or deliberately set upon in the name of sport or pleasure." from a tweet to ICABS, June 2015.

Cllr Sean Haughey (Fianna Fail, Dublin City Council / Clontarf)
In 2010, Sean Haughey TD voted in favour of the ban on carted stag hunting.

In 2005, foxes and mink were doomed to lives of misery on fur farms following the rejection by Dail Eireann of the Fur Farming (Prohibition) Bill 2004. The bill was defeated by 67 votes to 50. Sean Haughey was among the TDs who voted AGAINST the bill.

In June 2005, Sean Haughey, TD asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food "her views on the horrific slaughter of 4,300 pigs on a farm in Waterford in 2002 which was presided over by officials from her Department".

Cllr Jane Horgan-Jones (Labour Party, Dublin City Council)
"Yes [I am in favour of a ban on foxhunting and hare coursing]." from a tweet to ICABS, May 2014.

Cllr Vincent Jackson (Independent, Dublin City Council)
"I am, and have always been, against bloodsports." from a text message to ICABS, May 2014.

Cllr Andrew Keegan (People Before Profit, Dublin City Council)
"I don't support blood sports, senseless hunting, the fur trade or any cruel acts to any animal no matter how important it may be locally perceived." from a text message to ICABS, November 2014.

Cllr Dermot Lacey (Labour Party, Dublin City Council)
"As a dog owner and animal lover generally I would be, and have been, supportive of typical animal rights issues over the years." from an email to ICABS, April 2014.

Cllr John Lyons (People Before Profit, Dublin City Council)
"I am most certainly in favour of a ban on these horrific activities [hare coursing and fox hunting]." from a text message to ICABS, November 2014.

Cllr Tina MacVeigh (People Before Profit, Dublin City Council)
"I most definitely am [in favour of a ban on hare coursing and fox hunting]." from a text message to ICABS, November 2014.

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 Rebecca Moynihan (Labour Party, Dublin City Council)
"Yes [add me to list of Labour Party politicians in favour of a ban on bloodsports]. I'm an animal lover." from a tweet to ICABS, June 2015.

Cllr Emma Murphy (Sinn Fein, Dublin City Council)
"I'm 100% against animal cruelty in any form & would support a ban on blood sports." from a tweet to ICABS, October 2014.

Cllr Criona Ni Dhalaigh (Sinn Fein, Dublin City Council)
"I am against any form of animal cruelty and abhor foxhunting and hare coursing." from a text message to ICABS, May 2014.

Cllr Michael O'Brien (Anti Austerity Alliance, Dublin City Council / Clontarf)
Hare coursing is a "wretched activity". from an email to ICABS, June 2015.

"I support the complete banning of all bloodsports in this country. I wish you and your campaign every success with this important struggle."

Cllr Damian O'Farrell (Independent, Dublin City Council / Clontarf)
"I am absolutely against the killing of animals for sport. Furthermore I don't agree with animals being held in circuses and have spoken out regarding this matter to Dublin City Council." from an email to ICABS, April 2014.

Cllr Ciaran O'Moore (Sinn Fein, Dublin City Council)
"Yes I would like a ban on all blood sports" from a text message to ICABS, November 2014.

Cllr Cieran Perry (Independent, Dublin City Council)
"I believe that the netting and coursing of wild hares is a cruel and barbaric practice that has no place in the Ireland of today. Despite the introduction of muzzling, which coursing enthusiasts reassured the public would remove the "kill" element of this so-called sport, it is clear that the coursing fraternity cannot be trusted to police their own events. It is surely now time to consign this cruel and shameful practice to the dustbin of history once and for all". From a statement issued on 03 February, 2011.

In October 2010, Cieran Perry succeeded in getting a motion passed in Dublin City Council to ban the import and sale of real fur, in the jurisdiction of Dublin City.

Cllr Noeleen Reilly (Sinn Fein, Dublin City Council)
"I support a ban on this outdated and cruel tradition in Ireland. There is no enjoyment for the animal in this sport." from a tweet to ICABS, October 2015.

Cllr Eilis Ryan (The Workers' Party, Dublin City Council)
"Fully opposed to hare coursing." from a tweet to ICABS, November 2015.

Cllr Brid Smith (People Before Profit Alliance, Dublin City Council)
"I am with you on blood sports. They should be banned." from a tweet to ICABS, 29 March 2014.

Cllr Sonya Stapleton (People Before Profit, Dublin City Council)
"I'm very much in favour of a ban on foxhunting and hare coursing. This cruelty has to be stopped and I would fully support such a proposal." from a text message to ICABS, November 2014.

 ACTION ALERTS 

Demand an immediate ban on hare coursing. Tell Minister Coveney to remove an exemption for hare coursing from the Animal Health and Welfare Act.

Simon Coveney, TD
Minister for Agriculture
Agriculture House,
Kildare Street, Dublin 2.

Email: Simon.Coveney@oireachtas.ie
Tel: 01-607 2884 or LoCall 1890-200510.
Fax: 01-661 1013.
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SimonCoveney
Tweet to: @simoncoveney
Tweet to @simoncoveney

Urgently contact An Taoiseach Enda Kenny and ask him to ban hare coursing.

An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny
Department of the Taoiseach,
Government Buildings,
Upper Merrion Street,
Dublin 2
Telephone: 01-6194020
Fax: 01-6764048
Email: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie

Videos: Ireland's cruel hare coursing

Videos: Drag coursing, the humane alternative to hare coursing

 ACTION ALERTS 

Express your support for a ban on coursing. Sign and share petitions

Stop Licensing Cruel Hare Coursing
Save Irish hares from cruel coursing
Ban horrific hare coursing cruelty in Ireland
Stop sponsoring hare coursing in Ireland

Urge Minister Heather Humphreys to show compassion for the persecuted Irish Hare and revoke the coursing licence she issued.

Email "Stop the cruelty. Revoke the hare coursing licence" to Heather.Humphreys@oireachtas.ie
[Heather.Humphreys@oireachtas.ie,ministers.office@ahg.gov.ie,taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie,joan.burton@oireachtas.ie,wildlifelicence@ahg.gov.ie,Gerry.Leckey@ahg.gov.ie]
Tel: (01) 631 3802 or (01) 631 3800
Leave a comment on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/heather.humphreysfg
Tweet to Heather Humphreys: @HHumphreysFG
Tweet to @HHumphreysFG

SAMPLE LETTER
(If you have time, please compose your own personal letter. Otherwise, feel free to send the short sample letter below. Be assertive, but polite, in all correspondence. Thank you.)

Dear Minister, I am one of the majority who want hare coursing outlawed. I am writing to urge you to revoke the licence you issued to the Irish Coursing Club. In coursing, hares suffer at all stages - during the capture, during the time they are kept in captivity and during the coursing meetings where they run for their lives in front of greyhounds. Among the injuries recorded are broken legs, damaged toes and dislocated hips. Every season, hare injuries and deaths are documented. I ask you to please act on the wishes of the majority, show compassion and permanently revoke the licence. Thank you. Yours sincerely, [Name/Location]

Contact all your local TDs now. Demand that they urgently push for a ban on hare coursing and all bloodsports. Tell them you are one of the majority who want coursing banned. Remind them that coursing is already illegal in Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales. Urge them to respect the wishes of the majority of the electorate and back a ban.

Find out their contact details
Please also arrange a meeting with your TDs at their local clinics.

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