Senator Power joins calls for end to coursing

Senator Power joins calls for end to coursing
17 August 2011

Fianna Fail Senator, Averil Power, has been thanked by ICABS for joining calls for an end to hare coursing. The Dublin North East politician was among those who urged Minister Jimmy Deenihan to refuse a coursing licence.

Despite appeals from compassionate TDs, Senators and citizens around Ireland, however, the Minister for Arts issued the licence. It allows coursing clubs to capture thousands of hares from the wild to be used as live lures for greyhounds.

In an email to Minister Deenihan, ICABS stated: "The coursing licence you approved will cause immeasurable suffering to thousands of Irish Hares. Hares will suffer the fear and stress of being captured from the wild and running for their lives in front of greyhounds. Among the injuries likely are broken bones, dislocated hips, damaged toes and mashed internal organs."

The licence comes as a disappointment to the majority who want blood sports banned. The Irish Council Against Blood Sports' campaign will continue until the day coursing becomes history.

We have renewed our appeal to the government to follow the example of Northern Ireland which has today announced a permanent ban on coursing.

The licence issued by Jimmy Deenihan can be viewed at:
www.scribd.com/doc/62163168/Hare-coursing-licence-2011-12

ACTION ALERT

Contact Minister Deenihan now and urge him to stop licensing coursing.

Jimmy Deenihan, TD
Minister for Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Affairs
Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
23 Kildare Street
Dublin 2

Email: ministersoffice@tcs.gov.ie
[with a copy to An Taoiseach - taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie]
Tel: (01) 631 3802
Fax: (01) 661 1201

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 Deenihan,
I am one of the majority of Irish citizens who want hare coursing outlawed. I am writing to express my great disappointment that you chose to license another season of this animal abuse. Please stop licensing coursing and follow the excellent example of your counterpart in Northern Ireland who has announced a permanent ban there.
I urge you to act on the wishes of the majority, show compassion and bring this blood sport to an end in the Republic.
Yours sincerely,
[Name/Location]

Forward a copy of your correspondence to your local TDs:
Find out the name of your TDs and their email addresses.

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