|
Two anti-coursing party leaders among 114 who voted against ban on hare coursing
23 July 2016
Among the 114 TDs who last month refused to vote in favour of a ban on cruel hare coursing were two party leaders who have stated they are opposed to hare coursing.
In 2003, Enda Kenny TD told ICABS: "I am opposed to the practice of live hare coursing." Last month, however, the Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach not only voted against the bill which sought to ban coursing but - through the party whip - compelled fellow Fine Gael TDs (regardless of their personal stances) to also reject it, thus ensuring that the bill failed.
Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams also voted to block a ban. In conversation with ICABS following the vote, the Louth TD told us "I am against hare coursing".
Also voting against the bill to ban coursing was Sean Kyne, TD (Fine Gael, Galway West) who in the past challenged a Minister on the licensing of hare netting licences, pointing out that the Irish Hare is a supposedly protected species. In 2012, he also stated: "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."
Bernard Durkan is another Fine Gael TD who refused to support a ban on coursing. The Kildare North politician is on record as saying "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."
Mayo TD Michael Ring (Fine Gael) also joined party colleagues in voting against the bill. He is on record as saying "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."
ACTION ALERTS
If these politicians represent your constituency, please get in touch with them now. Tell them that their stance on this animal cruelty issue means hares will continue to suffer and die in coursing. Urge them to show compassion for Irish wildlife and vote differently next time a similar bill comes before the Dail.
Sign and share petitions
Ireland: Ban Cruel Hare Coursing
https://www.change.org/p/ireland-ban-cruel-hare-coursing
Save Irish hares from cruel coursing
https://www.change.org/p/save-irish-hares-from-cruel-coursing
Contact Minister Heather Humphreys now and urge her stop licensing hare coursing
Heather Humphreys, TD
Minister for Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Affairs
Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
23 Kildare Street
Dublin 2
Email: Heather.Humphreys@oireachtas.ie, ministers.office@ahg.gov.ie, taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie, wildlifelicence@ahg.gov.ie, Gerry.Leckey@ahg.gov.ie
Tel: +353 (0)1 631 3802 or +353 (0)1 631 3800
Leave a comment on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/heather.humphreysfg
Tweet to: @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)
|
Dear Minister,
I am one of the majority who want hare coursing outlawed. I am writing to urge you to refuse a licence to the Irish Coursing Club. In coursing, hares suffer and die 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. I ask you to please act on the wishes of the majority, show compassion and refuse to licence this cruelty. Thank you. Yours sincerely, [Name/Location] |
Urgently contact An Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Enda Kenny and An Tanaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) Frances Fitzgerald. Ask them to ban hare coursing and give permanent protection to hares.
An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny
Department of the Taoiseach,
Government Buildings,
Upper Merrion Street,
Dublin 2
Telephone: 01-6194020
Email: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie
Tweet to: @EndaKennyTD Tweet to @EndaKennyTD
An Tanaiste, Frances Fitzgerald
Department Of Justice
51 St. Stephen's Green
Dublin 2.
Tel: +353 1 602-8202 or +353 1 457 7712
Email: frances.fitzgerald@oir.ie
Tweet to: @FitzgeraldFrncs Tweet to @EndaKennyTD
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Frances-Fitzgerald/302584593224671
Appeal to the Minister for Agriculture
Please appeal to the Minister for Agriculture to remove an exemption for coursing from the Animal Health and Welfare Act.
Michael Creed TD
Minister for Agriculture
Department of Agriculture
Agriculture House,
Kildare Street, Dublin 2.
Email: michael.creed@oir.ie
Tel: 01-607 2000 or LoCall 1890-200510.
Fax: 01-661 1013.
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michaelcreedtd
Tweet to: @creedcnw
Tweet to @creedcnw
Visit the Oireachtas website for names of TDs and their email addresses http://www.oireachtas.ie/members-hist/default.asp?housetype=0&HouseNum=32&disp=mem
Write to your TDs at: Dail Eireann, Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2. Tel: 01-618 3000 or 1890 337 889.
Please also arrange a meeting with your TDs at their local clinics.
How TDs voted on bill to ban hare coursing
YES: VOTED IN FAVOUR OF BILL - 20
Independents: 8
People Before Profit: 4
Anti Austerity Alliance: 3
Social Democrats: 3
Green Party: 2
Mick Barry (Anti Austerity Alliance, Cork North Central)
Richard Boyd Barrett (People Before Profit Alliance, Dún Laoghaire)
Tommy Broughan (Independent, Party Dublin Bay North)
Joan Collins (People Before Profit Alliance, Dublin South Central)
Catherine Connolly (Independent, Galway West)
Ruth Coppinger (Anti Austerity Alliance, Dublin West)
Clare Daly (Independent, Dublin Fingal)
Stephen Donnelly (Social Democrats, Wicklow)
John Halligan (Independent, Waterford)
Gino Kenny (People Before Profit Alliance, Dublin Mid West)
Catherine Martin (Green Party, Dublin Rathdown)
Finian McGrath (Independent, Dublin Bay North)
Catherine Murphy (Social Democrats, Kildare North)
Paul Murphy (Anti Austerity Alliance, Dublin South West)
Maureen O'Sullivan (Independent, Dublin Central)
Shane Ross (Independent, Dublin Rathdown)
Eamon Ryan (Green Party, Dublin Bay South)
Róisín Shortall (Social Democrats, Dublin North West)
Bríd Smith (People Before Profit Alliance, Dublin South Central)
Mick Wallace (Independent, Wexford)
NO: VOTED AGAINST BILL - 114
Fine Gael: 46 TDs
Fianna Fail: 36 TDs
Sinn Fein: 16
Labour Party: 5
Independents: 11
Gerry Adams (Sinn Fein, Louth)
Bobby Aylward (Fianna Fail, Carlow Kilkenny)
Maria Bailey (Fine Gael, Dún Laoghaire)
Sean Barrett (Fine Gael, Dún Laoghaire)
John Brassill (Fianna Fail, Kerry County)
Declan Breathnach (Fianna Fail, Louth)
Pat Breen (Fine Gael, Clare)
Colm Brophy (Fine Gael, Dublin South West)
James Browne (Fianna Fail, Wexford)
Richard Bruton (Fine Gael, Dublin Bay North)
Pat Buckley (Sinn Fein, Cork East)
Peter Burke (Fine Gael, Longford Westmeath)
Joan Burton (Labour Party, Dublin West)
Mary Butler (Fianna Fail, Waterford)
Catherine Byrne (Fine Gael, Dublin South Central)
Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail, Meath East)
Jackie Cahill (Fianna Fail, Tipperary)
Dara Calleary (Fianna Fail, Mayo)
Sean Canney (Independent, Galway East)
Ciaran Cannon (Fine Gael, Galway East)
Joe Carey (Fine Gael, Clare)
Pat Casey (Fianna Fail, Wicklow)
Shane Cassells (Fianna Fail, Meath West)
Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail, Mayo)
Jack Chambers (Fianna Fail, Dublin West)
Niall Collins (Fianna Fail, Limerick County)
Michael Collins (Independent, Cork South West)
Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Fine Gael, Offaly)
Simon Coveney (Fine Gael, Cork South Central)
Barry Cowen (Fianna Fail, Offaly)
David Cullinane (Sinn Fein, Waterford)
John Curran (Fianna Fail, Dublin Mid West)
Michael D’Arcy (Fine Gael, Wexford)
Jim Daly (Fine Gael, Cork South West)
John Deasy (Fine Gael, Waterford)
Patrick Deering (Fine Gael, Carlow Kilkenny)
Regina Doherty (Fine Gael, Meath East)
Pearse Doherty (Sinn Fein, Donegal)
Paschal Donohoe (Fine Gael, Dublin Central)
Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail, Clare)
Andrew Doyle (Fine Gael, Wicklow)
Bernard Durkan (Fine Gael, Kildare North)
Damien English (Fine Gael, Meath West)
Martin Ferris (Sinn Fein, Kerry County)
Frances Fitzgerald (Fine Gael, Dublin Mid West)
Michael Fitzmaurice (Independent, Roscommon Galway)
Peter Fitzpatrick (Fine Gael, Louth)
Charles Flanagan (Fine Gael, Laois)
Sean Fleming (Fianna Fail, Laois)
Brendan Griffin (Fine Gael, Kerry County)
Simon Harris (Fine Gael, Wicklow)
Michael Harty (Independent, Clare)
Sean Haughey (Fianna Fail, Dublin Bay North)
Seamus Healy (Unemployed Action Group, Tipperary)
Michael Healy-Rae (Independent, Kerry County)
Danny Healy-Rae (Independent, Kerry County)
Martin Heydon (Fine Gael, Kildare South)
Brendan Howlin (Labour Party, Wexford)
Paul Kehoe (Fine Gael, Wexford)
Enda Kenny (Fine Gael, Mayo)
Martin Kenny (Sinn Fein, Sligo Leitrim)
Seán Kyne (Fine Gael, Galway West)
John Lahart (Fianna Fail, Dublin South West)
Michael Lowry (Independent, Tipperary)
Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail, Sligo Leitrim)
Josepha Madigan (Fine Gael, Dublin Rathdown)
Micheál Martin (Fianna Fail, Cork South Central)
Mary Lou McDonald (Sinn Fein, Dublin Central)
Helen McEntee (Fine Gael, Meath East)
Michael McGrath (Fianna Fail, Cork South Central)
Mattie McGrath (Independent, Tipperary)
John McGuinness (Fianna Fail, Carlow Kilkenny)
Tony McLoughlin (Fine Gael, Sligo Leitrim)
Denise Mitchell (Sinn Fein, Dublin Bay North)
Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Fine Gael, Dún Laoghaire)
Kevin “Boxer” Moran (Independent, Longford Westmeath)
Michael Moynihan (Fianna Fail, Cork North West)
Imelda Munster (Sinn Fein, Louth)
Dara Murphy (Fine Gael, Cork North Central)
Eoghan Murphy (Fine Gael, Dublin Bay South)
Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail, Roscommon Galway)
Margaret Murphy-O’Mahony (Fianna Fail, Cork South West)
Denis Naughten (Independent, Roscommon Galway)
Hildegarde Naughten (Fine Gael, Galway West)
Tom Neville (Fine Gael, Limerick County)
Carol Nolan (Sinn Fein, Offaly)
Michael Noonan (Fine Gael, Limerick City)
Éamon Ó Cuív (Fianna Fail, Galway West)
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Sinn Fein, Cork South Central)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Sinn Fein, Dublin South Central)
Jim O’Callaghan (Fianna Fail, Dublin Bay South)
Kate O’Connell (Fine Gael, Dublin Bay South)
Kevin O’Keeffe (Fianna Fail, Cork East)
Fiona O’Loughlin (Fianna Fail, Kildare South)
Louise O’Reilly (Sinn Fein, Dublin Fingal)
Frank O’Rourke (Fianna Fail, Kildare North)
Willie O'Dea (Fianna Fail, Limerick City)
Patrick O'Donovan (Fine Gael, Limerick County)
Fergus O'Dowd (Fine Gael, Louth)
Willie Penrose (Labour Party, Longford Westmeath)
John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael, Carlow Kilkenny)
Maurice Quinlivan (Sinn Fein, Limerick City)
Anne Rabbitte (Fianna Fail, Galway East)
Michael Ring (Fine Gael, Mayo)
Noel Rock (Fine Gael, Dublin North West)
Brendan Ryan (Labour Party, Dublin Fingal)
Eamon Scanlon (Fianna Fail, Sligo Leitrim)
Sean Sherlock (Labour Party, Cork East)
Brendan Smith (Fianna Fail, Cavan Monaghan)
Brian Stanley (Sinn Fein, Laois)
David Stanton (Fine Gael, Cork East)
Peadar Tóibín (Sinn Fein, Meath West)
Robert Troy (Fianna Fail, Longford Westmeath)
Dr. Leo Varadkar (Fine Gael, Dublin West)
DID NOT VOTE - 24
24 TDs chose to abstain or were not present to vote.
Fine Gael: 4 TDs
Fianna Fail: 8 TDs
Sinn Fein: 7 TDs
Labour Party: 2 TDs
Independents: 3 TDs
John Brady (Sinn Fein, Wicklow)
Michael Creed (Fine Gael, Cork North West)
Sean Crowe (Sinn Fein, Dublin South West)
Dessie Ellis (Sinn Fein, Dublin North West)
Alan Farrell (Fine Gael, Dublin Fingal)
Kathleen Funchion (Sinn Fein, Carlow Kilkenny)
Pat The Cope Gallagher (Fianna Fail, Donegal)
Noel Grealish (Independent, Galway West)
Heather Humphreys (Fine Gael, Cavan Monaghan)
Billy Kelleher (Fianna Fail, Cork North Central)
Alan Kelly (Labour Party, Tipperary)
James Lawless (Fianna Fail, Kildare North)
Charlie McConalogue (Fianna Fail, Donegal)
Joe McHugh (Fine Gael, Donegal)
Aindrias Moynihan (Fianna Fail, Cork North West)
Eoin Ó Broin (Sinn Fein, Dublin Mid West)
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Sinn Fein, Cavan Monaghan)
Seán O Fearghaíl (Fianna Fail, Kildare South)
Darragh O’Brien (Fianna Fail, Dublin Fingal)
Jonathan O'Brien (Sinn Fein, Cork North Central)
Jan O'Sullivan (Labour Party, Limerick City)
Thomas Pringle (Independent, Donegal)
Niamh Smyth (Fianna Fail, Cavan Monaghan)
Katherine Zappone (Independent, Dublin South West)
Video: It's time for a ban on Ireland's cruel hare coursing
The victims of coursing
All hares used in coursing are victims and they all suffer the fear and stress of being violently snatched from their habitats, thrown into crates, transported to coursing compounds and kept in captivity for months. Among the hare injuries and deaths recorded are:
Slideshow: the cruelty of hare coursing in Ireland
Make a donation to ICABS
Please consider making a donation to ICABS. For more details, please click on the button below or follow this link to find out how to become a campaign supporter. Thank you.
