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What are your politicians saying about blood sports
The Irish Council Against Blood Sports campaigns enjoy cross-party support. Please contact your anti-blood sports TDs/Senators to praise their efforts to get hunting and coursing banned. If your TD/Senator is in favour of animal cruelty, please let them know that their stance will affect your future voting decisions.
Find out the name of your TDs and Senators and MEPs
Email addresses for TDs and Senators
For more information, visit our Politicians page
Views of current TDs
Bertie Ahern, TD and former Taoiseach (FF, Dublin Central):
"I am totally opposed to hare coursing and I hope that...many more people reject hare coursing as a past-time, which can never justifiably be called a sport." (1997).
Seán Ardagh, TD (FF, Dublin South Central):
"I am not in favour of any kind of blood sports and will lobby whenever possible to have them banned."
Bobby Aylward, TD (FF, Carlow-Kilkenny ):
"The stag hunting doesn't affect me and I'm not going to fight a cause in Kilkenny that's an issue in Meath and North Dublin." Bobby Aylward quoted in the Sunday Business Post, 04 April 2010
James Bannon, TD (Fine Gael, Longford-Westmeath):
"The Fine Gael Party will strongly oppose any change to the existing licensing arrangements for stag and fox hunting. Any new regulations made by the Minister, or his Government, will be reversed." (Speaking during the Field Sport Regulation Adjournment Debate on 11 March 2010. To read the full text of the debate, Click Here).
"I emphasise that I am totally opposed to this legislation [to ban the Ward Union deerhunt], as a representative of Longford-Westmeath and as a countryman who supports the rural pursuits and unique heritage and tradition of field sports...hunting creates a sense of community in rural areas. My farm has facilitated hunting throughout my life and both my father and grandfather before him allowed the hunts to pass through our lands. I will continue to allow them do so. Hunting unites farmers and sports people for a common recreational purpose and tradition. I am deeply concerned at the appalling actions of the Minister and his wilting Green Party, which are aimed at destroying country wide field sports...I was shocked to see on the Minister’s website the no-holes-barred assertion that the Green Party intended to attack coursing and fox hunting and secure a legislative ban on all blood sports...I cannot emphasise strongly enough the devastation to the sporting, economic, leisure and tourism activities of any ban on field sports, hare coursing or stag hunting. Any such move would be detrimental to the country as a whole and to the countryside in particular...Banning hunting, which is a strong tradition in rural Ireland going back centuries and over many generations, would be a threat to the rural way of life and would be strongly resisted by rural people and by people living in towns who participate in rural sports, many of whom I am delighted to welcome onto my farm every spring. " Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage, Thursday, 24 June 2010
Johnny Brady, TD (FF, Meath West):
"Many people are highly concerned about this Bill and are fearful for the many other rural pursuits that are practised and engaged in. This legislation is being perceived as an attack that will lead to a ban on all field sports. The organisations opposed to the Bill represent more than 300,000 people involved in country pursuits. Rural field sports are family-orientated activities that are not ageist, sexist or racist. Generations of Irish people have taken part in such healthy, outdoor and family activities. Rural sports are an important economic activity in many rural communities and provide important support to the farming and bloodstock industry. As a rural Deputy, I represent an area in which there are two hunt clubs on my doorstep, namely, the Ballymacad Hunt and the Meath Hunt. I know exactly how important both these hunts are to the local community. They have major support across a broad area. Foxhunting nationally is a major contributor to the economy in the absence of any State support...I am not happy, despite the assertion of the Minister, Deputy Gormley, that the legislation will not have any implications for other country pursuits such as fox hunting, hare hunting, hare coursing, shooting, fishing, greyhound racing or deer stalking. I consider the Bill to be an assault on rural Ireland and its traditions...I know enough about fox hunting and the Ballymacad Hunt and the Meath Hunt. I follow them whenever I am at home, especially around Christmas time. I get great enjoyment from them...I say to the Minister, Deputy Gormley, to the Taoiseach and other members of the Government, that if any of the other country pursuits such as fox hunting, hare hunting, hare coursing, shooting, fishing, greyhound racing and others are threatened, they cannot depend on my support whether this Dail lasts two months or two years. They will not have my support if anything else is tinkered with." Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage, Thursday, 24 June 2010
Tommy Broughan, TD (Labour Party, Dublin North-East ):
"I remain opposed to all so called blood 'sports'." (February 2010)
"[I] support your call to introduce drag coursing in place of coursing of hares." (September 2003)
John Browne, TD (FF, Wexford):
In September 2009, Deputy Browne forwarded an appeal to Minister Brendan Smith and John Gormley and asked them to "seriously consider" the points ICABS raised about hare coursing.
Ulick Burke, TD (FG, Galway East):
"FF back bencher Noel Treacy made good his support for fieldsports, as did East Galway FG TD Ulick Burke." (From a report in the Irish Horse section of the Irish Famers Journal, 26 January 2008 about a hunt meeting in Galway)
Thomas Byrne, TD (FF, Meath East):
"Fianna Fail TD Thomas Byrne said he opposed a ban on stag hunting since it affected his constituents in Meath East."
"This legislation [to ban the Ward Union hunt] is not right and the Oireachtas should not be targeting individual organisations or groups. I welcome the provision that the Minister is including in the legislation that regularises licensing for shooting game and wildlife. That may give some reassurance to the gun clubs although many of the constituents I spoke to on it today were not convinced." Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage, Thursday, 24 June 2010
Joe Costello, TD (Labour, Dublin Central):
"I am opposed to all blood sports."
"The legislation is silent on blood sports. While it refers to hunting, this concerns licences for hunting and ensuring there is not indiscriminate killing of wildlife. The two are different. One is the shooting or culling of wildlife whereas bloodsports concern a person chasing wildlife for pleasure and enjoyment. We must address the bloodsports issue in Ireland. We have touched on it from time to time but we have never dealt with it seriously, either in terms of coursing, fox hunting, stag hunting or badger baiting or hunting, nor have we addressed the considerable cruelty attached to the manner in which it is done and the way the animal is treated both in the hunt and in the killing. We hear horrific stories every season. We must recognise that the animals involved are all wild animals, foxes, stags and badgers, and are hunted, not for human food but for human pleasure. That is what we must examine...Hunting for pleasure is unacceptable and the line must be drawn that, while there is commercial hunting, fishing and culling of wildlife, there should not be commercial or other forms of bloodsports where human beings not only chase animals but kill them, which is the normal outcome of the chase. It involves a considerable amount of cruelty, does not benefit anyone and does not redound to the well-being of or a sense of respect for animals which we should have. I urge the Minister to examine this issue seriously to see whether some movement can be made." (Speaking as a Senator in 16th November 2000).
Niall Collins, TD (FF, Limerick West):
In 2008, Deputy Niall Collins called on Environment Minister John Gormley to grant the licences as a matter of urgency. Quoted in the Irish Examiner of August 19, 2008, he said: "It stands to reason that once the licences have been granted the various coursing clubs and organisations can better plan when, where and how they will capture hares. This will help to ensure that the best possible care for the hares is provided and it will also give the various coursing clubs more certainty when it comes to planning their activities...I do not agree with the narrow view taken by the Irish Council Against Blood Sports on this issue, as they don't understand and value the traditional and cultural elements of this greyhound sector."
Seymour Crawford, TD (FG, Cavan-Monaghan):
"My neighbours are deeply involved in both hunting and shooting, and some of them in other hunt clubs. Those people, if they are in a hunt club, contact the people in the area in which they will hunt. They do not do it behind people’s backs. They are welcome. Especially on my own farm, they are extremely welcome wherever they want to go, let it be hunting, shooting or whatever else. While the Minister is saying today that it is only the Ward hunt club that he is interested in, they are in no doubt whatsoever, from the information they are getting from the websites and elsewhere in the Green Party, that this is the first shot at all of the different aspects of Irish culture and Irish life. When I think of all the joy that those people have got down through the years in all sorts of areas of hunting, shooting, etc., I am scared for the future of this country...The Ward Union Hunt has a proud tradition. During the debate on this issue, I became annoyed by the efforts of some to claim the Ward Union Hunt is an old British club that has nothing to do with Ireland. It has a long association with Irish traditions, as Deputy Byrne stated...The Minister states hunting is dangerous to people and hard on the animals. From reports I have read, there are very different views on this. As the Minister’s Fianna Fáil colleagues have said, further study needs to be done on it and a report needs to be produced before a hammer is used to crack a nut...I attended two meetings organised by the hunting and shooting fraternity. I can tell the Minister that those meetings were packed. One of them was in the Westenra Arms Hotel in Monaghan town, the other was in the Lavey Inn in Cavan. These meetings were packed with people who had only an interest in a bit of sport...I know people in the Enniskillen hunt, which goes into the Clones area. Members of one of the families involved are my best friends and invite me to the hunt regularly. It is nothing but sport." Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage, 24 June 2010. Deputy Crawford voted AGAINST the Bill.
Michael Creed, TD (FG, Cork North-West):
In a statement issued in October 2009, Michael Creed, TD stated: "Fine Gael supports country sports which are carried out humanely, properly supervised and monitored and that do not involve any undue risk to animal welfare. If these criteria can be satisfied Fine Gael does not oppose properly licensed country sports activities. Fine Gael will oppose any move by Government to deny groups who have conducted their activities as per their licences, the right to continue to pursue these activities in the future. We believe that imposing a ban on these licensed activities would be a retrograde step both in terms of animal welfare and economically. "
Fine Gael's Spokesperson for Agriculture, Fisheries & Food, Michael Creed, has been asked by ICABS to stop defending the cruel blood sport of beagling. In a Sunday Independent report, the County Cork TD sided with the beaglers and criticised Minister John Gormley for restricting the beagling season. The June 1st 2008 article quoted Deputy Creed as saying that "any assault on the ordinary working man's pursuit of beagling by some Green metropolitan latte-drinking elite would not be taken lying down". For more information, see ICABS responds to Deputy Michael Creed's beagling remarks
John Cregan, TD (FF, Limerick West ):
"The hare coursing season began last weekend and Limerick West Fianna Fail TD John Cregan is urging the Environment Minister to give clubs around the country the official go-ahead to practise the sport...Hare coursing, which is thoroughly humane, is particularly popular in West Limerick." (From a press release issued by Deputy John Cregan on 5th September 2007)
Ciarán Cuffe, TD (Green, Dun Laoghaire):
"I am against all forms of blood sports."
Jimmy Deenihan, TD (FG, Kerry North):
"It was I who proposed muzzling greyhounds for coursing and it is working very well." (Note: muzzling is actually not "working well"; hares continue to suffer and die during coursing meetings as muzzled dogs hit the creatures and maul them into the ground)
According to a report in Kerry's Eye, Jimmy Deehinhan was present at an Abbeydorney Hunt on January 27 1997
Bernard Durkan, TD (FG, 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."
"What concerns me most about this Bill [Wildlife Amendment Bill 2010 which bans the Ward Union deerhunt] is the attack on rural life. In recent years we have seen the gradual erosion of the rights and entitlements of people living in rural areas...One cannot keep dogs. One cannot hunt." Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage, 29 June 2010 - http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2010-06-29.377.0 Deputy Durkan voted against the ban on staghunting
Damien English, TD (FG, Meath West):
"I shall take a few seconds to register my opposition to this Bill and my support for the Ward Union Hunt and hunts in general. I have spent all my life living beside the Meath Hunt and have watched it in operation. I watched how its members treat their dogs and run their business. I do not get a chance to follow or watch the Ward Union Hunt and its business but I know many of the people involved. They treat animals and operate in exactly the same way as the Meath Hunt. They have respect for animals and know what they are doing." Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage, 29 June 2010 - http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2010-06-29.377.0 Deputy English voted against the ban on staghunting
Olwyn Enright, TD (FG, Laoighis-Offaly):
Speaking on RTE's Questions and Answers on 20th September 2004, Olwyn Enright said she would not want to see foxhunting banned. "I haven't considered it in any great detail but I wouldn't be in support of a ban of it at this point," she said. "I do think that eventually people will have to look at other ways - drag hunting and things like that - but I think that would be a very, very slow process. But it is something I would ask the hunt organisation to look into." (The programme segment can be viewed online on the RTE website).
Martin Ferris, TD (SF, Kerry North):
"There is the legitimate argument that the State, the State acting on behalf of a section of the electorate or, in this case, one political party, ought not to have the right to ban activities just because someone else does not like them. There are many people who do not like this form of hunting, and they are entitled to their beliefs. However, they are not entitled to have it banned simply on that basis.
The only basis on which they would be entitled would be if it could be proved that the practise in question was either cruel, deliberately designed to kill the animal being pursued or that the animal in question was an endangered species. None of that applies as far as I can see in this instance.
There is also the argument, including on behalf of people who have no particular interest in or affection for stag hunting, that if this activity is banned the way will be open to ban other sports involving animals. That could include hare coursing, for example, and I have little doubt that if this Bill is successful that will be the next target." Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage, 24 June 2010. Deputy Ferris voted AGAINST the bill.
"Sinn Fein TD Martin Ferris yesterday said he did not consider hare coursing a blood sport...Mr Ferris said he was stating his position on hare coursing because there was confusion surrounding the motion passed at the last party ardfheis calling for a ban on all blood sports. He said he was supportive of 'traditional rural' pursuits such as hare coursing, and he did not consider it a blood sport as greyhounds were now muzzled." Irish Times, September 8, 2009. Note: Deputy Ferris maintains this view despite evidence provided to him by ICABS which shows that coursing is a blood sport that continues to cause horrific injuries and deaths to hares.
"Hunting, coursing, fishing and shooting... are big part of rural Ireland and a big part of what we are. They are very beneficial to the economy of rural Ireland." Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages, 29 June 2010 - http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2010-06-29.475.0 Deputy Ferris voted against the ban on staghunting.
Terence Flanagan, TD (FG, 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. For more, see Terence Flanagan, TD joins calls for end to deer hunt
Beverley Flynn, TD (Independent, Mayo):
According to a report in the Sunday Times (November 18th, 2007), Deputy Flynn wrote to Minister John Gormley to put forward the case for refusing a licence to the Ward Union deerhunt. "I have been approached by a number of constituents who have expressed concern over the possibility of your issuing a [hunting] licence," she stated in her correspondence.
Eamon Gilmore, TD (Labour, Dun Laoghaire):
"I am opposed to the blood sports of badger baiting, cock fighting, dog fighting, hare coursing and stag hunting. Democratic Left strongly believes in protecting our wildlife and we are very concerned about the cruelty and impact on the various species of so-called blood sports."
Paul Nicholas Gogarty, TD (Green Party, Dublin Mid-West):
"If asked, the majority of people in Ireland wish to have stag hunting banned. The majority of people, including those living in rural areas, also wish to have hare coursing banned...the maths and the clout do not add up for the Green Party to ban hare coursing although we have expressed our desire to get rid of hare coursing.
As for the issue of jobs and the influence of the Ward Union Hunt this issue does not pertain to jobs. It is about the boys on top of the horses not being willing to drag hunt. They are not willing to lay down a scent for the hounds to follow as they can do everything else with the arrangement of the farmers. However, they want to cause wanton cruelty and to engender dread in the stag. There is no other reason for it because they can do everything else. They can dress up in their finery; they can lord it over every field and can pee off some of the farmers who do not wish them to go across their land. However, they do not wish to do this if they are dragging a scent. They want to have the fun implicit in scaring the bejasus out of a dumb animal. I say that they, and not the stags, are the dumb animals in this instance." Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage, 24 June 2010
"I support section 1. The Bill is correctly entitled the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill because it amends existing legislation to ensure the right of particular domesticated animals to enjoy a stress-free existence. I wholeheartedly support the legislation." Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages, 29 June 2010 - http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2010-06-29.475.0 Deputy Gogarty voted in favour of the ban on staghunting.
"Greyhounds must compete on merit and should not race after taking painkillers or other drugs to boost performance. Much concern has been expressed about the health and safety of the greyhounds but only a handful of Deputies have referred to the health and safety of hares. Deputy Gregory referred to the continuing practice of blooding and cruelty to dogs. Greyhounds are treated as commodities and put down once they have outlived their usefulness. The same applies to hares. Even in the regulated system where dogs wear muzzles, hares are held for up to six weeks and may be killed by stress or mauling during coursing meets.
"I have nothing against the greyhound industry per se. I acknowledge that a night at the dogs could be an enjoyable event but not at the expense of unnecessary cruelty and mistreatment of animals. Studies have shown that drag coursing provides a similar training for dogs without cruelty to hares.
"Notwithstanding the manner in which dogs are treated, a societal issue must be addressed. Many Deputies and well-heeled members of society enjoy going to the dogs and buying dogs. I am sure they would not condone the use of animals as commodities or cruelty to animals but this happens in the greyhound industry. Surveys show that 75% of people living in the countryside and 90% of those in cities oppose hare coursing, a considerable amount. The sport has blood on its hands and is under a cloud, irrespective of the contents of the Dalton report. An industry based on cruelty and exploitation should not be allowed to continue as it is." During a Dail debate on the Greyhound Industry (Doping Regulation) Bill 2006, 8th June 2006.
John Gormley, TD (Green Party, Dublin South-East):
"I am pleased to introduce the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2010 and I look forward to an informed debate during its passage through the House. As the House is aware, the renewed programme for Government includes a commitment to introduce legislation to prohibit the practice of deer hunting with a pack of dogs. This short Bill provides for the banning of this particular hunting practice. In addition, I have taken the opportunity to increase the maximum fines for wildlife-related offences, which were last increased in 2000.
I would like to put on the record of the House the fact that the decision to prohibit the hunting of deer with a pack of hounds was not taken lightly. Section 26(1) of the 1976 Act provides that I, as Minister, may grant to the master or other person in charge of a pack of stag hounds a licence authorising the hunting of deer by that pack during such period or periods as is or are specified in the licence. However, the Act does not provide criteria for awarding or refusing a licence.
As Deputies are aware, there is only one stag hound pack in the State, which operates in County Meath. When I became Minister in June 2007, I had concerns from an animal welfare and a public safety point of view relating to the operation of the hunt meetings operated by the hunt club in question. These concerns were shared by some of my predecessors...
It is not acceptable to allow a hunt with hounds and horses of what is essentially a farm animal. We do not consider it acceptable to set dogs in pursuit of any other farmed animal. Furthermore, there are public safety issues, as it is simply not possible for the hunt to prevent deer in flight from leaping through hedges onto public roads. I recall an incident last December during one of their hunt meetings when a deer had to be put down after it had leapt onto a road and collided with a car. I find this incident totally unacceptable even though I understand that fortunately on that occasion there were no injuries to the occupants of the car...
If the Deputy has a domesticated animal at home and if a number of people came to him and said they wanted to hunt that animal down with hounds and people on horseback, I believe he would be rightly outraged, even if they said they would give the animal back to him in one piece. That animal would be running for its life, and the deer in Meath is running for its life. That is unacceptable and uncivilised." Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage, 24 June 2010.
"I continue to believe that this particular hunting practice should cease for animal welfare and public safety reasons. I believe a large proportion of the public consider such activity is no longer acceptable. The Deputy may recall an incident a few years ago when a deer pursued by a pack of hounds entered a school yard during the school day. I find an incident like this totally intolerable. Since then, there have been other public safety incidents involving deer in flight leaping through hedges onto public roads. Therefore, I recently obtained Government approval to the drafting of legislation to prohibit the hunting of deer by a pack of stag hounds." (From Adjournment Debate, Hunting Licences, 2 December 2009. For more details, see Hunt ban legislation will be published "as soon as possible" )
Noel Grealish, TD (Independent, Galway West):
"I fully support your quest to ban live hare coursing." (September 2003)
Mary Harney, TD (Indpendent, Dublin Mid West):
Deputy Harney voted in favour of Tony Gregory's 1993 anti-coursing bill
Tom Hayes, TD (FG, Tipperary South):
"I attended six coursing meetings in the past few months and I did not see one hare killed. I love what is good in rural Ireland, whether it is coursing, hunting hares, beagling or whatever, and I believe there is a strong agenda to stop those sports...I represent a constituency that is proud of its heritage in the coursing and animal welfare world." (March 2005)
Jackie Healy-Rae, TD (Independent, Kerry South):
"A number of TDs, including Jackie Healy Rae and Michael Lowry, had earlier voiced concern that the Greens' ban on stag hunting and their dog breeding bill indicated a lack of empathy with country pursuits." (Sunday Business Post, 04 April 2010)
"Jackie Healy-Rae showed up on RTE's News at One...He denied he had told a Sunday newspaper: "Letting a pack of dogs loose after a deer and scaring it half to death isn't something I agree with." The newspaper's deputy editor rang in to say they have him saying it on tape." Sunday Tribune, July 4th, 2010
http://www.tribune.ie/news/article/2010/jul/04/the-achilles-heel-of-the-hunt/
"Healy Rae perfected another U-turn. He said he was opposed to stag hunting last weekend. Yesterday, he was for it. Consistent in his inconsistency." Harry McGee, Irish Times Website, June 30, 2010. http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/politics/2010/06/30/a-dogs-life-welcome-to-dail-eireann/
Michael D Higgins, TD (Labour, Galway West):
"I must say it is absolutely outrageous to suggest that I and any Member of the Labour Party are in favour of cruelty to animals or bloodsports." Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage, 24 June 2010. Note: With the exception of Deputy Higgins (absent on medical grounds) and Tommy Broughan (who absented himself from the vote), all the remaining Labour Party TDs voted AGAINST a ban on the cruel blood sport of staghunting.
Michael D Higgins is a former vice-chairperson of the Irish Council Against Blood Sports.
Maire Hoctor, TD (FF, Tipperary North):
"As a rural Deputy from North Tipperary, where the horse, hound and deer are synonymous with rural life, it was with regret that I learned last October that the ban on the 200 year tradition of the Ward Union Hunt in County Meath was part of the newly agreed programme for Government...I am fully aware of the high standards of animal welfare practice undertaken by the members of the Ward Union Hunt Club, some of whom are personal friends of mine." Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage, 24 June 2010. Deputy Hoctor voted in favour of the bill.
"I do not share the same views as the Council does on bloodsports, hare coursing etc. so I am not in a position to campaign with you on this." (Letter to ICABS, September 2003)
Fianna Fail TD Maire Hoctor claimed backbenchers had not been consulted about a ban on stag hunting contained in the programme for government, agreed between Fianna Fail and the Greens. Ms Hoctor said the "preference" of the Greens was to ban other forms of hunting. "That's not part of a programme for government I'm part of," she said. (The Irish Times, May 12, 2010)
"Deputy Hoctor concluded: 'The discussions are ongoing and it is my intention that hunting dogs and the needs of the Hunting Association of Ireland be adequately addressed in the upcoming legislation also.'"
Nenagh Guardian, 10th July 2010 - http://www.nenaghguardian.ie/news-detail.php?article=RJYPLI
Phil Hogan, TD (FG, Carlow-Kilkenny):
Fine Gael environment spokesman Phil Hogan wrote to hunting associations in recent days, setting out the party's commitment to ''oppose any change to existing licensing arrangements for stag hunting''. The letter said that the party would ''reverse any changes made by the present government in that regard'' if it assumed government after the next general election. (From the Sunday Business Post, February 21, 2010)
"The Fine Gael Party is opposing every section of this legislation, including section 1 which sets out the definitions of the two Acts referred to in the Bill. We do not even agree that it should be entitled the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill." Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages, 29 June 2010 - http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2010-06-29.475.0 Deputy Hogan voted against the Bill which banned staghunting.
"Fine Gael believes the hunt plays an important cultural and economic role in rural Ireland..."
Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage, 24 June 2010
http://debates.oireachtas.ie/DDebate.aspx?F=DAL20100624.xml&Ex=All&Page=9
Michael Kennedy, TD (FF, North Dublin ):
"I believe [the Ward Union deer] expect to be hunted. I am not suggesting for one second that they should be mauled by hounds or anything like that. I would abhor that. I would have a greater problem with hare coursing where I believe greyhounds get very close to the unfortunate hare...I have no connection with the hunt or the people involved. However, I speak as someone with a love of animals. We have always kept dogs in the family home and currently we keep two beautiful cavaliers. I represent a vast number of constituents from Dublin North who are actively involved in the hunt and others not involved in the hunt but who support it." Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage, 24 June 2010. Deputy Kennedy voted in favour of the bill.
"If we didn't support you, we wouldn't be here." Quoted in the
Tony Killeen, TD (Fianna Fail, Clare):
Enda Kenny, TD (FG, Mayo):
Michael Lowry, TD (Independent, Tipperary North):
Dr Martin Mansergh, TD (Fianna Fail, Tipperary South):
"As I have stated several times, I am generally supportive or tolerant of all existing field sports...It is wrong to believe that all people living in the country are uncritically supportive of field sports. A telephone or Internet poll in the Tipperary Star that I would not necessarily trust completely asked whether blood sports should be banned and received a two thirds response in favour...I reassure my constituents field sports will continue without interference and with no risk whatsoever, despite vastly exaggerated claims to the contrary. Stag hunting is simply not relevant to the broader interests of the equine industry, which is of great importance to this country." Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage, 24 June 2010. Deputy Mansergh voted in favour of the bill.
Micheal Martin, TD (Fianna Fail, Cork South-Central ):
Padraic McCormack, TD (FG, Galway West):
"Why does he not withdraw it [i.e. the bill that bans staghunting]?" Comment aimed at Minister John Gormley during the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage, 29 June 2010 - http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2010-06-29.377.0 Deputy McCormack voted against the ban on staghunting.
Tom McEllistrim, TD (Fianna Fail, Kerry North):
Shane McEntee, TD (FG, Meath East):
"I am calling on the Environment Minister, John Gormley to grant a licence to the Ward Union Hunt to hunt live stags...Any doubts about the future of the Ward Union Hunt should be removed. Meath would be a poorer place if the Ward Union Hunt was not allowed to hunt across its fields...hunting has a long and honourable tradition in County Meath" (From a statement headed "Hands off Hunting", issued by Shane McEntee in 2007. For more, please see Meath TD slammed for defending animal cruelty)
"The Ward Union is an iconic representation of rural life in Ireland...As a Deputy, I will oppose [a ban on the hunt]." (From Hunting Licences, Adjournment Debate, 2 December 2009).
In complete contast, Deputy McEntee claimed to ICABS representatives in March 2010 that he is "against animal cruelty".
Finian McGrath, TD (Independent, Dublin North Central):
Mattie McGrath, TD (FF, Tipperary South):
"It has been noted that this stag hunt has been in existence since 1854 and reference has been made to its benefits. People who take part in rural pursuits and who get their children involved will care for animals more than any animal rights person or self-proclaimed animal rights people because they are close to nature...I know nothing about stag hunting because I do not live in that part of the country so I will not stray into it. However, I am disappointed in the way they have been vilified." Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage, Thursday, 24 June 2010
Liz McManus, TD (Labour, Wicklow):
Arthur Morgan, TD (Louth, Sinn Fein):
"And then there was Arthur Morgan. Like the Labour Party, Sinn Fein has done a complete U-turn on stag hunting. A motion was passed at the 2009 Ard Fheis calling for a ban on all blood sports. Then the hare coursing fraternity within the party got to work and managed to completely reverse the decision at this year’s Ard Fheis...Arthur Morgan has a very strong view on all this. He supports the ban on stag hunting passionately. He was in a bit of a quandary yesterday. He would have voted to support the Bill if there was a free vote or even if it looked like the Government had the numbers to easily pass. But if it was close and the Government looked like falling, he might have been persuaded to vote against, as a protest against all the other Government policies and decisions he opposed.
The solution? He kicked up a racket yesterday afternoon and got chucked out of the Dail. It essentially solved the problem at a stroke." Harry McGee, Irish Times Website, June 30, 2010 - http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/politics/2010/06/30/a-dogs-life-welcome-to-dail-eireann/
Darragh O'Brien, TD (Fianna Fail, Dublin North):
Charlie O'Connor, TD (FF, Dublin South-West):
Caoimhghin Ó Caoláin, TD (SF, Cavan/Monaghan):
Willie O'Dea, TD (FF, Limerick East ):
Noel O'Flynn, TD (FF, Cork North Central):
Ned O'Keeffe, TD (FF, Cork East):
Mary O'Rourke, TD (Fianna Fail, Longford-Westmeath):
Christy O'Sullivan, TD (Fianna Fail, Cork South-West):
Jan O'Sullivan, TD (Labour, Limerick East):
Maureen O'Sullivan, TD (Independent, Dublin Central):
Do we have some romantic view of the hunt in terms of the red jackets, the men and women on horseback and, I understand these days, on quads and jeeps, with the horns blowing, the dogs baying and the so-called thrill of the chase? The words I use are animal cruelty. There are incidents of deer becoming entangled in barbed wire, drowned and chocked to death. Do we really want to see images of hunted deer covered in blood, wounded, bitten and bruised, with steaming tongues hanging out as they drop to the ground exhausted? The hunt is causing unnecessary suffering to these animals. It is a gruelling experience that can last up to and even longer than three hours.
I cite, as the late Deputy Tony Gregory did in the Dáil debate of October 2007, the veterinary documents which show the injuries and fatalities. They include fractured ribs, ruptured aortic aneurysms, a deer collapsing and dying after desperately trying to escape over an 8 ft high wall. There is considerable photographic and video evidence of the cruelty, and reports in newspapers of numerous incidents of cruelty. Is it sport to terrify an animal so unnecessarily and for what?
The Ward Union Hunt states that it has implemented a wide range of health and safety measures in recent years. That is equivalent to telling a prisoner that after being tortured a doctor will be on hand to bandage the wounds. What health and safety measures can be brought in that will alleviate deliberate suffering and torture of an animal? That is a total contradiction." Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage, 24 June 2010. Deputy O'Sullivan voted in favour of the bill.
"Maureen O'Sullivan, TD said one of the major regrets of the late Tony Gregory was that more hadn't been done for animal rights in his lifetime. She had always shared his views on animal rights, she said, and hoped to continue his work against coursing. 'It is absolutely vicious, I couldn't look at the video footage of coursing, how people call that a sport, I do not know,' Ms O'Sullivan said." (From a report in the Irish Times, August 14, 2009)
Willie Penrose, TD (Labour, Longford -Westmeath):
"I speak as a Deputy who is deeply in touch with rural issues and a rural way of life and I strongly oppose the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2010, as proposed by the Minister, Deputy Gormley...The Bill before the House is historic in at least one respect, in that, to the best of my knowledge, it is the first occasion since the foundation of the State that a Government has brought a specific Bill before this House to outlaw a country sport...As young people we hunted rabbits in order to secure food or sell it at two shillings unskinned or half a crown skinned...We hunted foxes...One got half a crown for a fox’s tail when one brought it in." Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage, 29 June 2010 - http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2010-06-29.377.0 Deputy Penrose voted against the ban on staghunting
"[Minister Gormley] reserved his full contempt for Labour. “I find you absolutely shameful.” It was difficult to disagree with him. The principled men and women of the Labour Party, who love to take a stand and cleave to it, blithely voting against a long-expressed opposition to animal cruelty and blood sports. No amount of shouting from Willie Penrose from Westmeath could change that, although he got a noisy round of applause from the Ward Union [hunt] people in the public gallery." Irish Times - Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Sean Power, TD (Fianna Fail, Kildare South):
"I was a greyhound owner in the past and my family was involved down through the years in the industry. I like a night at the dogs. In recent years, the issue of clerical abuse has received a great deal of publicity. However, as a former altar boy, my experience of the church was much different. I was an altar boy to a priest who loved both horse and greyhound racing and I had the pleasure of travelling around the country to attend horse and greyhound race meetings and even the odd coursing meeting. I learned a great deal and my experience with this priest was joyous and educational. I am grateful for the education I received about greyhounds and horses." (Speaking as Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children during a Dail debate on the Greyhound Industry [Doping Regulation] Bill 2006, 8th June 2006)
Ruairí Quinn, TD (Labour, Dublin South East):
Pat Rabbitte, TD (Labour, Dublin South West):
Michael Ring, TD (FG, Mayo):
Dick Roche, TD (FF, Wicklow):
Eamon Ryan, TD (Green, Dublin South):
"I also have a particular interest in improving animal welfare via a radical
change in the industrial farming practices which I feel have the greatest
detrimental effect on animal welfare in this country. Perhaps the two issues can
be developed in tandem as a proper respect for our wild animals, and indeed the
environment around us, might also lead to a greater respect for the animals which
we use in our farming industry."
Trevor Sargent, TD (Green, Dublin North):
I live in north County Dublin and I know many of the people who ride out with the WUH. However, the vast majority of those who raised this issue with me are opposed to the activity for a number of reasons, many of which relate to animal welfare. There is no getting away from that. The Irish Farmers’ Journal printed a report in 2007 of a deer choking to death. In 2005 a deer died having broken a rib leading to an aortic rupture. The stress endured by the animals must be acknowledged. A 300 kg stag aged five bolted through a hedge and was hit by a car last December and that gave us a salient warning. Thank God there were no human fatalities but the deer had to be put down.
These issues cannot be brushed under the carpet as if everything is a picnic and there is no animal welfare issue. We must not be blind to it. As a former Minister of State with responsibility for food and horticulture, I have met many people with an agricultural background who are not at all happy. Horticulturists find it difficult to make a living and they do not want horses and hounds traversing their land. I live near a farmer who has a field of turnips. The gate was left open by the hunt members. Generally they disregard the difficulties people face in trying to make ends meet and to maintain their livelihoods. We must have consideration for the wider community in this regard.
Condensing the issue down to wide open fields and rural communities does not tell the full story. I recounted an incident earlier to Deputy Kennedy of a stag appearing in a man’s garden while he worked in his house. Nobody was chasing it but it was distressed having escaped the hunt at least momentarily. A veterinarian was called and the stag had to be tranquilised. The tranquiliser did not take effect immediately and because this large animal was agitated, it took off again towards Rivervalley, a highly built up area in Swords. The tranquiliser only kicked in when the stag had made it 2.5 miles down the Brackenstown Road. When a stag is trying to escape, it will try to do anything. It will go into a school yard, the grounds of a church, a graveyard or a garden. It will do whatever it has to do to escape. That is the reality in the name of the WUH...Deputy Shatter held a much higher position in the Irish Council Against Blood Sports than I could ever aspire to but he has not contributed to this debate. Perhaps he has been silenced in more ways than one." Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage, 24 June 2010. Deputy Sargent voted in favour of the bill.
"The legislation [Wildlife Amendment Bill 2010] before us has a narrow focus as it deals with a specific activity. It in an anachronism in this day and age that the activity in question continues to take place. In addition to the animal welfare issue that arises, there is an inconsistency in terms of the use of a domesticated animal in this activity. While a stag has some wild tendencies, it is a domesticated animal and we would not tolerate the hunting of any other type of domesticated animal, for instance, a cow or pig. Stag hunting is an anachronism.
I accept that the public safety aspect of the Bill, a collision with a stag, is less likely to arise than a head-on collision with another car caused by someone falling asleep at the wheel. However, if a vehicle were to collide with a stag and someone were to be killed, would the Deputies Opposite remain quiet or would they ask which Minister licensed the activity and thereby allowed a tragedy to befall a family? Would they be sanguine about the Minister’s role in allowing this licensing activity to continue and failing to notice previous near misses, including, but not only, the incident in Kildalkey? In December, for example, a deer had to be put down having collided with a vehicle. Fortunately, the incident did not result in a human tragedy...There are many incidents that are near misses which never feature in the media. I do not want them to feature in the media because I do not want a fatality as a result of this anachronism in 2010." Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages, 29 June 2010 - http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2010-06-29.475.0 Deputy Sargent voted in favour of the ban on staghunting.
"I feel we have reached a point in our history where almost unanimous agreement has been reached in rejecting political violence and, to ensure that society develops respecting life in general, it is important I believe to reject violence in the name of 'sport' also. Foxhunting, however, does not need to be violent if it takes the form of a drag hunt which spares the fox from the torturous and exhausting chase with the possibility of horrific and slow death."
Alan Shatter, TD (FG, Dublin South):
Tom Sheahan, TD (FG, Kerry South):
Sean Sherlock, TD (Labour, Cork East):
Roisin Shortall, TD (Labour Party, Dublin North-West):
Emmet Stagg, TD (Labour Party, Kildare North):
Noel Treacy, TD (FF, Galway East):
At a pro-hunt meeting in January 2008, Deputy Treacy spoke in favour of hunting, suggesting that the biggest threat it faced was complacency. "When I was in charge of the Wildlife Service," he announced, "I got constant letters from ICABS to ban hunting and in all my time there only ever got one letter pro hunting." (Galway Independent - 23 January 2008)
Joanna Tuffy, TD (Labour Party, Dublin Mid West):
"The Labour Party opposes this legislation [ban on Ward Union deerhunt] because it is the wrong approach to maximising the protection of wildlife. It does nothing to protect wildlife but has a much more cynical motivation. It is an all-out unilateral ban on the Ward Union Hunt...People in rural communities feel under threat from this legislation and are concerned it is the thin end of the wedge."
Jack Wall, TD (Labour Party, Kildare South):
Mary Wallace, TD (FF, Meath East):
"The ban on stag hunting will not only be detrimental to the local jobs and the local economy in Meath, but it also poses a threat to the wider economy. Why are the thousands of voices that oppose this ban being ignored? I cannot understand why that is. It is wrong to trample on people’s rural traditions...I question the use of animal welfare and public safety as a motivation for this legislation and have legitimate suspicions that the real agenda is a basic dislike of all forms of hunting and rural activities, which is informed by ideology rather than reality. The reality is so different, and I would love to see people experiencing the real hunt...The Bill is unnecessary and has a disproportionate effect on the economy of County Meath and the Ward Union Hunt. The Ward Union Hunt has maintained the highest animal welfare standards through its 200-year history...I am a lifelong supporter of the Ward Union Hunt." Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage, Thursday, 24 June 2010
Mary White, TD (Green Party, Carlow/Kilkenny):
The stag is a farmed animal whose antlers have been cut off. When the stag is cornered with the hounds at bay, grown men jump on the stag, bring it to the ground and wrestle it back into the horsebox. Man is a sentient being with a higher mind than an animal. Is it right for him to take pleasure in this? That is what is at the heart of this Bill. The issue is not jobs or pleasure, but about man as a superior being having control over animals. This is the philosophical question." Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage, 24 June 2010. Deputy White voted in favour of the bill.
Views of current Senators
Senator Ivana Bacik (Independent):
Senator Dan Boyle (Green Party):
Senator Paul Bradford (Fine Gael):
Senator Paddy Burke (Fine Gael):
Senator Ivor Callely (Fianna Fail):
Senator Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael):
Senator Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael):
Senator Paul Coghlan raised the hackles of one of the Green's new twin babies in the Seanad on Thursday when he declared that Fine Gael is "completely opposed" to John Gormley's proposed ban on stag hunting. "It is a legitimate and worthwhile country pursuit and a sport that is highly beneficial for tourism. I cannot discern where cruelty is involved," he said, much to the disgust of Senator Niall O Brolchain. (The Irish Times - February 27, 2010)
Senator Mark Dearey (Green Party):
Senator Camillus Glynn (Fianna Fail):
Senator David Norris (Independent):
"I heard a Member on the Government side attempt to defend the obscenity of coursing, which is indefensible." (Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Second Stage, 26 January 2010)
Senator Niall O'Brolchain (Green Party):
Senator Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail):
Senator Ann Ormonde (Fianna Fail):
Senator Nicky McFadden (Fine Gael):
Senator John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael):
Senator Feargal Quinn (Independent):
"I must declare an interest. For many years I hunted with the Fingal Harriers and the Ward Union Hunt. In Britain, the ban on hunting shows the clear division between city and country. I would hate to see this happen in this country." (Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009, 03 February 2010)
Views of former TDs
Andrew Boylan, TD (FG):
Dan Boyle, TD (Green, Cork South Central):
James Breen, TD (Ind, Clare):
Séamus Brennan, TD (RIP) (FF, Dublin South):
Ben Briscoe, TD (FF):
Michael Collins, TD (FF, Limerick West):
Dr Jerry Cowley, TD (Ind, Mayo):
Sean Crowe, TD (SF, Dublin South West):
Alan Dukes, TD (FG):
Chris Flood, TD (FF):
Tony Gregory, TD (Independent, Dublin Central), 1947-2009, RIP:
"Self enforcement is as effective as the Garda Complaints Commission. It is totally ineffective. There is no monitoring or independent checks. The rules [in the foxhunters' so-called code of conduct] are meaningless."
Tony Gregory was the vice-president of the Irish Council Against Blood Sports. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dilis. Please see our Tributes to Tony Gregory page.
Marian Harkin, TD (Independent, Sligo-Leitrim):
Seamus Healy, TD (Independent, Tipperary South):
Joe Higgins, TD (SP, Dublin West):
Brendan McGahon, TD (FG):
"I'm a bit cynical about the impact of muzzling. When these dogs are travelling at very high speed and slide in for the kill, they can fatally injure these fragile creatures."
Marian McGennis, TD (FF):
Joe Sherlock, TD (Labour, Cork East) (RIP):
Joe Walsh, TD, former Minister for Agriculture (FF, Cork South West):
Views of former Senators
Senator Mary Henry (Independent):
Senator Jim Higgins (FG):
Senator Rory Kiely (FF):
Did your TDs vote for or against the staghunt ban?
Find out if your Dail representatives were among the majority who voted in favour of banning the Ward Union hunt.
TDs who voted in favour of the staghunt ban: 75
Bertie Ahern (Fianna Fail)
TDs who voted against the staghunt ban: 71
James Bannon (Fine Gael)
Tellers:
Absent: Tommy Broughan (Labour Party)
Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed), Committee and Remaining Stages
Watch the debate
Read a full transcript of the debate at http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2010-06-29.377.0
You may also watch the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage (24 June 2010) and read the full transcript of the debate.
Watch the debate
Read a full transcript of the debate
Views of Councillors
Cork City Council
Cllr Brian Bermingham (Fine Gael, Cork South West)
North Tipperary Councillors
From an article in the Nenagh Guardian
Opposition to the Government’s hunting proposals was also expressed at last month’s meeting of North Tipperary Co Council, where local councillors spoke of the importance of hunting in the county.
Councillors John Kennedy (Lab) and Jonathan Meaney (Lab) submitted a notice of motion urging the council to recognise the increasing level of popular support being expressed for the RISE (Rural Ireland Says Enough!) campaign and call on the Government to heed the campaign’s concerns.
Cllr Jim Casey (FF) called on the council to oppose the legislation being proposed by Minister Gormley in respect of hunting in rural Ireland. He said the council has a duty to protect North Tipperary’s fox hunting tradition and the local horse trade.
Cllr Ger Darcy (FG) said the council should be promoting hunting as part of its bid to draw more visitors to North Tipperary. He also described hunting as an alternative sport for young people that don’t pick up the mainstream sports of hurling, rugby and soccer.
Cllr Eddie Moran (Ind) said the hunts generate employment and trade in North Tipperary.
Cllr Michael Smith (FF) also supported the motions, and while none of the councillors would be in favour of animal cruelty, he said there should be more dialogue between the stakeholders involved.
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"The Government considers that this hunting practice [carted deer hunting] should cease for animal welfare and public safety reasons. A large proportion of the Irish public consider such activity is no longer acceptable. Last year, the Government approved the drafting of legislation to prohibit the hunting of deer by a pack of hounds...I want to make it clear that this legislation will not have any implications for other country pursuits such as fox-hunting, hare coursing or deer stalking." (Speaking as Minister of State with special responsibility for Forestry, Fisheries and the Marine during the Field Sport Regulation Adjournment Debate on 11 March 2010)
"I am opposed to the practice of live hare coursing."
"A number of TDs, including Jackie Healy Rae and Michael Lowry, had earlier voiced concern that the Greens' ban on stag hunting and their dog breeding bill indicated a lack of empathy with country pursuits." (Sunday Business Post, 04 April 2010)
The Irish Times of January 2nd, 2010 reported that Dr Mansergh is "in general...a supporter of field sports" but "not personally involved" unlike members of his "wider family". The report stated that he "rejected the notion claimed by some pro-hunting activists "that banning stag-hunting represented the 'thin edge of the wedge' which would lead to the outlawing of other rural pursuits such as fox-hunting or hare-coursing."
Speaking on RTE's Questions and Answers on 20th September 2004, Micheal Martin, TD stated that he does not think foxhunting should be banned in Ireland. (The programme segment can be viewed online on the RTE website). Responding to a question from presenter, John Bowman, Deputy Martin said: "Foxhunting has been a part of Irish rural life for quite a long time, since well before the foundation of the state. I'm not sure banning a sport like that is the way to deal with issues like this." His comments came just five days after members of Parliament in the UK voted overwhelmingly to make foxhunting illegal there.
In an email to an ICABS supporter, Deputy McCormack stated: "Fine Gael will oppose any change to existing licensing arrangements for stag hunting and will reverse any changes made by the present Government in that regard." (March 2010)
In a statement issued in September 2007, Tom McEllistrim, welcomed the licensing of hare coursing and described the blood sport as "thoroughly humane". Responding, ICABS stated: "Deputy McEllistrim clearly doesn't comprehend the meaning of the word humane." For more details, please see ICABS blasts "coursing is humane" claim
"Those who hunt are great people — I have listened to them...Fine Gael and the Labour Party do not want to have to reintroduce stag hunting when Fianna Fáil and the Green Party leave Government, whether it is now or in two years’ time. We do not want to have to spend time on that. However, we will bring it back in. That is guaranteed...I know all the people involved in the Ward Union Hunt and in other hunts. They are all farming-minded people, so to speak. As Deputy Michael Kennedy said, he was not a farming person but these people are all animal lovers. They would stay up at night to mind a calf that was born two months premature. They would get up ten times at night to make sure it lived. They would do it for any animal. They are not cruel people and I resent that insinuation from anybody." Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage, 24 June 2010. Deputy McEntee voted AGAINST the bill.
"I support the plan to end doping and rigging of greyhound races. I demand standards in the industry to root out doping and sleaze. Although it is an important social and family event, the downside of it is coursing, on which we need a debate." During a Dail debate on the Greyhound Industry (Doping Regulation) Bill 2006, 8th June 2006.
Mattie McGrath spoke in favour of hare coursing on the Pat Kenny Radio Show on October 1st 2009. You can listen to Deputy McGrath's defence of this cruel activity by downloading the show. Deputy McGrath voted against the ban on staghunting in June 2010.
"I support a ban on live hare coursing, carted deer hunting and a tightening up of regulations on fox hunting."
"Carted deer hunting is an unnecessary cruelty which causes horrific suffering to defenceless red deer," Deputy Morgan stated. "This blood "sport" is not just an abomination for the animals involved - it can also pose a danger to members of the public, with terrified deer crashing through hedges, over walls and even across busy public roads to avoid being tortured. As a result the hunt has been condemned not only by animal welfare groups but also by farmers, landowners, motorists, parents and householders...The Irish Council Against Blood Sports are campaigning on this issue and they have my full support." (Arthur Morgan, TD urges "total ban" on Ward Union)
According to a report in the Sunday Times (November 18th, 2007), one of the few TDs who defended the Ward Union deerhunt was Darragh O'Brien, TD.
"I took careful note of your concerns regarding hare coursing and please be assured of my interest in the matter. I am pursuing this issue on your behalf and I will do all I can to help." July 2004.
"I am totally opposed to live hare coursing."
In 2009, the Irish Council Against Blood Sports warmly welcomed a statement from the office of the then Minister for Defence, Willie O'Dea, in which we were told that the Minister "fully supports" our campaign. (Defence Minister "fully supports" ICABS campaign)
"I am on record as being totally opposed to all forms of blood sport. I will support any future legislation that will outlaw cruel blood sports."
"Speaking to the Sunday Independent, Fianna Fail back-bench TD Ned O'Keeffe warned the Greens that any attempt to abolish 'rural pursuits' such as hare coursing 'by stealth' will be 'vigorously resisted'." (Sunday Independent, September 20 2009)
"We have all been receiving e-mails from RISE, or Rural Ireland Says Enough. I am here today because I come from a part of Ireland which fishes, hunts and shoots. I came with a mandate from there and they want me to say today that they understand if we signed up to a document, but that they will not entertain - nor will I nor will Fianna Fail - any further inroads into rural pursuits...We will not entertain it and we will not have it. I want to know exactly what could possibly be wrong with fishing, hunting or with the gun clubs whose members have approached me. They go about their normal pursuits as well...the Minister will have to give a guarantee on the floor of the House that this Bill and the Bill to be taken next week - which he inherited from the former Minister, Deputy Dick Roche - will be the end of his ramblings in rural Ireland." Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage, 29 June 2010 - http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2010-06-29.377.0 Deputy O'Rourke voted in favour of the ban on staghunting.
According to a report in the Sunday Times (November 18th, 2007), one of the few TDs who defended the Ward Union deerhunt was Christy O'Sullivan, TD.
"I do not support blood sports."
"I wish to focus on the hunt aspect and the proposal to prohibit stag hunting with hounds in Ireland, which will apply to the Ward Union Hunt. I believe this is a humane and an enlightened initiative that is long overdue.
"Longford-Westmeath TD Willie Penrose also said he would not support a ban [on the Ward Union deerhunt]. 'I support rural Ireland. I don't support the Wildlife Bill. I certainly would not support the bill. I'm a rural person with rural views,' he said." (Irish Times, April 29, 2010)
"The hunt has a long and distinguished record in Ireland and a proud tradition. Most villages have pictures of hunts going back over many years and there is something beautiful about watching a hunt in action. Man has always hunted. Today, that hunt takes on a different meaning but people appreciate that it has a proud historic record. This Bill has attracted much publicity. People who do not hunt or engage in rural activities have little understanding or appreciation of why others partake in the activity and the joy, fun and craic that people have on a hunt...The Ward Union Hunt Club has been operating for more than 150 years and is the only club with a stag hunt. It has approximately 200 active members. I know some of these people personally and I regard them as normal, natural people. In any group of 200 people one can select a few and try to tarnish them all with the same brush. The same could be said of the 166 Deputies. The members of the Ward Union Hunt Club are normal people who enjoy a particular activity. From my knowledge of them, they are animal lovers who take great pleasure in participating in a stag hunt...I regret the introduction of legislation to criminalise a long and proud tradition in Ireland." Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage, 24 June 2010. Despite expressing support for the Ward Union, Deputy Power voted in favour of a ban on staghunting.
"I used to be a member of the Irish Council Against Blood Sports. Personally, I am against the hunting of live animals with dogs, i.e. fox hunting, live hare coursing and carted deer hunting."
"I do not support bloodsports or hare coursing but I have no difficulty with age-old rural sports like fishing, shooting, etc within the terms prescribed by law."
"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."
"Neither you or anybody else will ever find any support from me for fox hunting." (Speaking as Minister for the Environment , Deputy Roche made this statement on 8th April 2007 in response to an email from a member of the public)
"Like most of my fellow Green Party TDs, I am firmly opposed to the current
practice of fox hunting and hare coursing in the country which I feel cannot be
defended on the grounds of preserving rural traditions or indeed any other
conservation or rural development arguments.
"The Bill takes the live quarry out of the equation in a hunt but does not ban hunting. Drag hunts will continue and traditions, kennels, horsemanship and the fallen animal service do not require a stag to be part of the equation. This reality needs to be discussed.
"I am totally opposed to hunting wild animals with dogs." Deputy Shatter voted AGAINST the Wildlife Amendment Bill 2010 which banned staghunting.
Deputy Sheahan voted against the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2010 which banned staghunting.
http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2010-06-29.475.0
"Cork East TD Sean Sherlock said he would reserve comment on stag hunting until the matter had been discussed internally. 'I believe there must be some sort of regulation but we must not regulate field sports out of existence.'" (Irish Times, April 29, 2010)
"To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his attention has been drawn to the large scale destruction of farm and other property, often running to thousands of euro, by the unauthorised use of such lands for the purposes of live hunting." (From a Dail Question tabled in 2004)
"Emmet Stagg has confirmed he is among a number of Labour TDs who do not support a ban on stag hunting...Mr Stagg, Labour whip and TD for Kildare North, said: 'I see nothing wrong with it [stag hunting] at all. I think it's well regulated. I'm a supporter of country sports in general,' he said." (Irish Times, April 29, 2010)
According to a report in the Sunday Times (November 18th, 2007), one of the few TDs who defended the Ward Union deerhunt was Noel Treacy, TD. The Galway SPCA criticised the TD for his stance and encouraged Galway people to lodge complaints.
"Studies carried out on the Ward Union Hunt found evidence of physiological recovery within three or four days and full recovery within ten days, and two months post hunt the hunted deer were found to be in good health." Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages, 29 June 2010 - http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2010-06-29.475.0 In response, Minister Gormley stated: "I do not know what sort of information the Deputy has but one does not need to be a vet or any specialist to see that the animal in question is under severe stress. It is a domesticated animal. The vets to whom I have spoken have clearly stated that the animal is under severe stress." Deputy Tuffy voted against the ban on staghunting.
http://debates.oireachtas.ie/DDebate.aspx?F=DAL20100624.xml&Ex=All&Page=9
Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage, 24 June 2010
"Kildare South TD Jack Wall said he was not in favour of the bill [to ban the Ward Union] and stag hunting provided employment." (Irish Times, April 29, 2010)
Three Fianna Fail TDs told RTE yesterday they would obey their party when it voted against stag hunting but, according to Mary Wallace, it would be "with a heavy heart" because it was an attack on rural traditions and went far beyond stag hunting itself. Irish Times, March 1, 2010
"I used to have a little pony called Lucky, when I had little yellow plaits. I used to follow the Bray Harriers when I was ten. Then I grew up. My father could not afford the pony — he used to rent them from Delahunt’s stables in County Wicklow — but my sister and I loved ponies. We loved the rural way of life. I live under the Blackstairs mountains in County Carlow. I am great friends with many members of the Carlow Farmers Hunt and I support them on many of their fund-raising activities. There are two sad aspects to this debate. One is the completely erroneous statements from RISE about the origins of the Green Party’s policy on this issue, the completely erroneous statements that the Greens know nothing about rural Ireland. I know a lot about rural Ireland. I was brought up in rural Ireland, I married somebody from rural Ireland and I live in rural Ireland. For many years, I used to shoot and fish to feed my family. I know what it is like to hook a salmon. I know what it is like to shoot a pheasant. However, the countryside has changed in Meath and in north County Dublin; it has become increasingly urbanised. Deputy McEntee knows this and he spoke very passionately and honestly and I respect that. However, he must also respect my views that the Green Party members are aware of how the countryside ticks. We do not all live in the middle of cities such as Cork, Dublin or Galway, where we have elected members. Some of us live and breathe the country air and know how the country works...I gave up shooting and fishing because the countryside has changed...
"I am asking you to refuse a licence to the Ward Union deer hunt," Senator Bacik stated in a letter to Environment Minister, John Gormley. "The Irish Council Against Blood Sports are mounting a campaign against this, which I support." (October 2007)
"My views on blood sports are quite simple. I believe that the use of animals against animals for the purposes of 'sport', with the intent to kill or maim, is morally wrong and should be suitably legislated against."
"The Minister [Michael Finneran, Fianna Fail] does not propose to change his mind and does not respect or accept the bona fides of the Irish Coursing Club or greyhound industry." Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage, 9 March 2010
"I have no doubt that the ban on coursing in England will be lifted" (Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage, 9 March 2010)
"I enjoy participating in traditional rural pastimes. On occasion, I have also enjoyed the Ward Union Hunt."
(Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage, 25 February 2010)
http://www.kildarestreet.com/sendebates/?id=2010-02-25.209.0
"Those involved in these rural pursuits [e.g. hunting] are not breaking any law; they are only doing what previous generations did. They are concerned that the Bill will affect the viability of these pursuits, in the process threatening their existence. I can appreciate their concerns, which is why we have tabled amendments to protect an indigenous industry that dates back many generations." Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage, 9 March 2010
"The Minister of State is a reasonable man and he will accept how well regulated is the coursing industry." Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage, 9 March 2010
"You can continue to enjoy the essence of the pastime on the basis of a drag hunt where the scent is dragged, rather than releasing a wild animal - but they turn their noses up at that...The other option is the release of the deer and its recapture before the hunt - the scent remains, but it doesn't lead to the animal being cornered, and in some cases killed. It's an exercise in terrorising the poor animal." Sunday Business Post, 04 April 2010
"The association [Hunting Association of Ireland] runs a fine show and if it were otherwise, I would say so and would not apologise to anyone for so doing...I refer to the Irish Coursing Club. I come from Killucan, a famous area for greyhound owners and breeders and coursing. Was there consultation with the club and the Irish Greyhound Owners and Breeders Federation? From what I know of them, these associations run a very tight ship and their views would be valuable." Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Second Stage, 26 January 2010. See ICABS response: Westmeath Senators criticised for defending hunters and coursers
"The spectacle of fox hunting is most attractive, although not for the fox. However, we must do something to root out the horrible practice of live hare coursing. There is simply no justification for it if we are concerned about the welfare of small animals. I believe it is bad for the moral welfare of the people who watch the sport. No decent person should take pleasure from the hunting to death of a small, frightened animal. I agree with Senator Mooney about education - it is an important element in encouraging people to respect wildlife." (16 November 2000).
"I would personally be very anti-bloodsports...I don't really see the need for it. [Coursing] is an example of animal cruelty and it does need to be stopped...The Green Party would be anti-bloodsports...It is very likely that there will be a much bigger clampdown next year and that would be what I hope will happen." (Speaking as a Green Party councillor, Galway independent, 12 September 2007)
"There is over-regulation within the fishing industry that has driven many people from that industry. Members are now witnessing over-regulation in the greyhound industry at the coursing level or otherwise. I must confess that I have never attended a coursing meeting in my life. The amendment tabled by Fine Gael seeks to address such over-regulation." Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages. Note: This amendment was declared lost.
"As a very young girl I saw how well run coursing was and how the integrity of the industry was protected at all times." Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage, 9 March 2010
"I am familiar with the South Westmeath Hunt. There is no question but they are the kindest people to those dogs." Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Second Stage, 26 January 2010. See ICABS response: Westmeath Senators criticised for defending hunters and coursers
"I will not be supporting any ban on stag hunting." (2010)
"I declared my interest on Second Stage in that I was a member of the Ward Union Hunt 20 years ago and I have received requests from its members to make a case on their behalf." (Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage, 10 February 2010)
"In County Cavan one sees ordinary people going out on foot every Sunday with their little terriers or hounds. They may chase a hare up to the highest hilltop, watch the hunt, listen to the hounds and see the hare scooting off as happy as Larry." (During the Wildlife Bill debate in Dail Eireann in April 2000).
"My views on blood sports are quite simple. I believe that the use of animals against animals for the purposes of 'sport', with the intent to kill or maim, is morally wrong and should be suitably legislated against."
"As a farmer, I allow people to hunt and shoot on my land." (Speaking as a member of the Joint Committee on the Constitution, during a meeting on 22 July 2003. To read the full text of the meeting, including presentations from representatives of hunting groups, please www.irlgov.ie/oireachtas/Committees-29th-Dáil/jcc-debates/jc220703.rtf).
"I have no difficulty in stating my own personal view which is that I am against all blood sports."
"All through my political life covering over thirty years I have been consistently against and spoken out against blood sports so you can take it that I will continue to do whatever I can to abolish blood sports."
"I wish to declare my keen interest not only in horse and greyhound racing, but also in coursing...Now that the Irish greyhound industry has been assured funding, I ask the
Minister to ensure that an equitable amount of this annual subvention be
directed towards the arm of the industry which, since the start of the last
century, has regulated all aspects of greyhound sports, racing and coursing,
until the advent of Bord na gCon in 1958. The services provided by the Irish
Coursing Club, based in Clonmel, are vital to the ongoing success of the
Irish greyhound industry. It provides a role and function in compiling the
stud book for the entire island of Ireland...For reasons which I have difficulty comprehending, it receives no
subsidy or benefit from moneys collected from betting revenues within the
industry nor from annual Government subventions to the industry. The
legislation governing the Irish greyhound industry clearly defines the role,
functions and responsibilities of the Irish Coursing Club in the development
of the greyhound industry. It is now time that some meaningful funding be
set aside to enable this voluntary organisation to go about its business." (May 2001).
"I think [blood sports are] barbaric and totally unnecessary."
"Sinn Féin as a party is absolutely opposed to blood 'sports' and motions to this effect have been passed at the last two Ard Fheiseanna with overwhelming support. On my own part, I find these activities to be a loathsome practice and the argument that they are in some manner a necessary part of traditional, rural life insulting to the intelligence. I would be delighted to support any and all legislation, which restricts, or bans these 'sports'."
"Kildare South TD, Alan Dukes, angered farmers when he called on the government to prevent delays to the start of the 2001/02 foxhunting season. Coming amid ongoing fears over the spread of foot and mouth disease, the appeal was criticised by farmers who fear foxhunters could ruin their livelihoods by spreading disease. Alan Dukes reportedly put pressure on the Agriculture Minister, Joe Walsh, to meet with foxhunting groups to arrange a re-start to the hunting season. An article in the Farmers' Journal criticised the Fine Gael Front Bench Spokesperson on Agriculture for his efforts to get hunts up and running again."
"I am personally opposed to all forms of blood sports and would like to see an end to them...I will continue to work toward this objective."
"Live hare coursing - a medieval and cruel practice - is still legal and should be banned outright as has been done in more advanced countries. Even the most prominent owners and trainers are involved in doping. The dog that won the coursing greyhound of the year award, Boa Vista, is owned by Vinnie Jones and others. It also won the Irish Cup 2005-06, sponsored by J.P. McManus, receiving prize money of €80,000. It tested positive for a banned drug following that win but we still do not know what drug was involved. The Irish Coursing Club is a law unto itself and is not fit to regulate anything involving animal welfare...This Bill is welcome if it can clean up one corrupt aspect of the greyhound industry. Regrettably, the industry is riddled with corrupt practices and a complete investigation into all aspects of the industry is needed. I refer in particular to the illegal, disgraceful practice of blooding greyhounds with live rabbits, hares and kittens. RTE ably exposed these practices some time ago." During a Dail debate on the Greyhound Industry (Doping Regulation) Bill 2006, 8th June 2006.
"It would appear logical to me that drag hunting should provide better enjoyment for horse riders. Since galloping and jumping would appear to be central to enjoying a day out, there is certainty of getting that every day with a drag. The drag...is also an advantage in going only where riders are welcome and would also avoid the damage caused to lands and fences which often occurs in a random hunt." (March, 2004). "I oppose live hare coursing and will support any measure which aims to restrict or eliminate it." (October 2003)
"This is a small but important industry, particularly in the area from where I come in south Tipperary in which the Clonmel track is located and which hosts the national coursing festival each year. The greyhound and coursing industries are important and give much employment and support to other industries and business in the town of Clonmel and much enjoyment and sport to the many people involved at all levels." During a Dail debate on the Greyhound Industry (Doping Regulation) Bill 2006, 8th June 2006.
"I am opposed to the hunting of foxes by hounds as indeed I am opposed to live hare coursing."
"My views are fairly well-known. I'm totally opposed to hare coursing. It's a barbaric game and fox-hunting is even worse. In my youth, I used to course and was sickened by it. It's a dreadfully cruel game in which timid little creatures are butchered by dogs often psyched up and blooded beforehand by unscrupulous people. The hares are torn apart, watched and cheered by a group of blood-thirsty people, very often including local clergy.
(Sunday Independent, January 11th, 1998)
"You may be assured of my continued opposition to blood sports in Ireland."
"On the basis that hares are now muzzled and very few fatalities occur within the sport I feel that I would not be in a position to have my name added to [the list of TDs who support an end to coursing in Ireland]." (August 2003)
"I am quite satisfied with our operation of fox hunting and other field activities here." (In response to an ICABS appeal for an inquiry into hunting with hounds. Irish Independent, August 2000.)
"You can be sure of my support. I have spoken [against hare coursing] before and will write to Minister Dick Roche about it." (June 2005)
"I am totally and unequivocally anti-blood sports. I think foxhunting is appealing to the lowest possible instincts in so-called civilised men. It is manifest barbaric cruelty."
"I recall the previous outbreak of foot and mouth disease in 1967. All
sporting fixtures were abandoned. I kept greyhounds at the time and was a
keen coursing enthusiast." (February 2001)
30 June 2010
Dermot Ahern (Fianna Fail)
Michael Ahern (Fianna Fail)
Noel Ahern (Fianna Fail)
Barry Andrews (Fianna Fail)
Chris Andrews (Fianna Fail)
Bobby Aylward (Fianna Fail)
Niall Blaney (Fianna Fail)
Áine Brady (Fianna Fail)
Cyprian Brady (Fianna Fail)
Johnny Brady (Fianna Fail)
John Browne (Fianna Fail)
Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)
Dara Calleary (Fianna Fail)
Pat Carey (Fianna Fail)
Niall Collins (Fianna Fail)
Margaret Conlon (Fianna Fail)
Mary Coughlan (Fianna Fail)
Brian Cowen (Fianna Fail)
John Cregan (Fianna Fail)
Ciarán Cuffe (Green Party)
John Curran (Fianna Fail)
Noel Dempsey (Fianna Fail)
Jimmy Devins (Fianna Fail)
Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail)
Frank Fahey (Fianna Fail)
Michael Finneran (Fianna Fail)
Michael Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail)
Seán Fleming (Fianna Fail)
Beverley Flynn (Fianna Fail)
Paul Gogarty (Green Party)
John Gormley (Green Party)
Noel Grealish (Independent)
Mary Harney (Independent)
Seán Haughey (Fianna Fail)
Máire Hoctor (Fianna Fail)
Billy Kelleher (Fianna Fail)
Peter Kelly (Fianna Fail)
Brendan Kenneally (Fianna Fail)
Michael Kennedy (Fianna Fail)
Tony Killeen (Fianna Fail)
Michael Kitt (Fianna Fail)
Tom Kitt (Fianna Fail)
Conor Lenihan (Fianna Fail)
Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)
Jim McDaid (Fianna Fail)
Tom McEllistrim (Fianna Fail)
Finian McGrath (Independent)
Michael McGrath (Fianna Fail)
John McGuinness (Fianna Fail)
John Moloney (Fianna Fail)
Michael Moynihan (Fianna Fail)
Michael Mulcahy (Fianna Fail)
M J Nolan (Fianna Fail)
Éamon Ó Cuív (Fianna Fail)
Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Fianna Fail)
Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
Charlie O'Connor (Fianna Fail)
Willie O'Dea (Fianna Fail)
Noel O'Flynn (Fianna Fail)
Batt O'Keeffe (Fianna Fail)
Ned O'Keeffe (Fianna Fail)
Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)
Christy O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail)
Maureen O'Sullivan (Independent)
Peter Power (Fianna Fail)
Seán Power (Fianna Fail)
Dick Roche (Fianna Fail)
Eamon Ryan (Green Party)
Trevor Sargent (Green Party)
Eamon Scanlon (Fianna Fail)
Brendan Smith (Fianna Fail)
Mary Wallace (Fianna Fail)
Mary White (Green Party)
Michael Woods (Fianna Fail)
Seán Barrett (Fine Gael)
Joe Behan (Independent)
Pat Breen (Fine Gael)
Richard Bruton (Fine Gael)
Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)
Joan Burton (Labour Party)
Joe Carey (Fine Gael)
Deirdre Clune (Fine Gael)
Paul Connaughton (Fine Gael)
Noel Coonan (Fine Gael)
Joe Costello (Labour Party)
Simon Coveney (Fine Gael)
Seymour Crawford (Fine Gael)
Michael Creed (Fine Gael)
Lucinda Creighton (Fine Gael)
Michael D'Arcy (Fine Gael)
Jimmy Deenihan (Fine Gael)
Andrew Doyle (Fine Gael)
Bernard Durkan (Fine Gael)
Damien English (Fine Gael)
Olwyn Enright (Fine Gael)
Frank Feighan (Fine Gael)
Martin Ferris (Sinn Fein)
Charles Flanagan (Fine Gael)
Terence Flanagan (Fine Gael)
Eamon Gilmore (Labour Party)
Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)
Tom Hayes (Fine Gael)
Jackie Healy-Rae (Independent)
Phil Hogan (Fine Gael)
Brendan Howlin (Labour Party)
Paul Kehoe (Fine Gael)
Enda Kenny (Fine Gael)
Michael Lowry (Independent)
Ciarán Lynch (Labour Party)
Kathleen Lynch (Labour Party)
Pádraic McCormack (Fine Gael)
Shane McEntee (Fine Gael)
Dinny McGinley (Fine Gael)
Joe McHugh (Fine Gael)
Liz McManus (Labour Party)
Denis Naughten (Fine Gael)
Dan Neville (Fine Gael)
Michael Noonan (Fine Gael)
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Sinn Fein)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Sinn Fein)
Kieran O'Donnell (Fine Gael)
Fergus O'Dowd (Fine Gael)
Jim O'Keeffe (Fine Gael)
John O'Mahony (Fine Gael)
Brian O'Shea (Labour Party)
Jan O'Sullivan (Labour Party)
Willie Penrose (Labour Party)
John Perry (Fine Gael)
Ruairi Quinn (Labour Party)
Pat Rabbitte (Labour Party)
James Reilly (Fine Gael)
Michael Ring (Fine Gael)
Alan Shatter (Fine Gael)
Tom Sheahan (Fine Gael)
P J Sheehan (Fine Gael)
Seán Sherlock (Labour Party)
Róisín Shortall (Labour Party)
Emmet Stagg (Labour Party)
David Stanton (Fine Gael)
Billy Timmins (Fine Gael)
Joanna Tuffy (Labour Party)
Mary Upton (Labour Party)
Leo Varadkar (Fine Gael)
Jack Wall (Labour Party)
Tá (Yes), Deputies John Curran and John Cregan;
Níl (No), Deputies Paul Kehoe and Emmet Stagg
Absent: Arthur Morgan (Sinn Fein)
Absent on Medical Grounds: Michael D. Higgins (Labour Party)
Tuesday, 29 June 2010
(Forward to the 02:55:30 mark for beginning of debate)
and www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2010-06-29.475.0
(Including list of TDs who voted for and against)
(Forward to the 03:54:00 mark for beginning of debate)
"I am very pleased the Dail has passed the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2010"
30 June 2010
http://www.nenaghguardian.ie/news-detail.php?article=RJYPLI
(10/07/2010)
