2 TDs oppose proposed bill to ban fox hunting
People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger has introduced a bill seeking to ban fox hunting in Ireland in the Dáil.
The bill aims to amend the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 to specify that “fox hunting and related practices are banned and therefore cannot be considered as lawful hunting”.
Deputy Coppinger told the Dáil that Ireland has "become an outlier" as fox hunting is banned in England, Scotland and Wales.
"I believe fox hunting is a cruel and inhumane so-called blood sport. It clearly causes unnecessary suffering.
"Packs of dogs chasing after a fox relentlessly is obviously a very stressful and unnatural situation," the Dublin West TD said.
Deputy Coppinger said that in 1998 a code of conduct was approved by a minister for fox hunting packs.
However, she said this has "eliminated none of the cruelty that makes fox hunting one of Ireland's most inhumane activities".
"Foxes are still dug out of the ground and tracked by trained terriers. Foxes are still chased by packs of dogs, sometimes for hours, and torn apart when caught.
"If a domestic animal were treated in this way, there would be an outcry," she said.
The TD told the Dáil that there is public support in both urban and rural areas to ban fox hunting, citing a Red C poll.
"Fox hunting has been banned for over two decades in Britain. I fail to understand why anyone would defend it here.
"The fox is a mammal native to Ireland and is part of Ireland's biodiversity. Fox hunting is of no benefit to anybody," she added.
Two TDs indicated that they would be opposing the bill, with Deputy Coppinger stating that this was "unprecedented".
"I have introduced many controversial things, as have other TDs, and I have never stopped a bill from going to second stage.
"I have been told to put on the big-girl pants and allow debate, but here we have a stifling of the freedom of debate and freedom of speech. I ask TDs and the government to reject the call to stop the bill progressing," she said.
Independent Ireland TD Michael Collins said that "foxes are classified as a pest species", with up to 200,000 of the animals currently in the country.
"We need to have some kind of control, because the next thing we will be in here seeing if we can protect the rat, the mouse, or whatever. Nobody wants to protect the human beings; that is the problem from what I can see here," he said.
"Foxes pose huge threats to farmers. If Deputy Coppinger had been brought up in a rural area, she would understand that. How many times have I heard down through the years that a fox had broken into a hen yard and destroyed every hen in the yard?
"They are also a threat to our native birds and young lambs. We need to have controls for foxes and hares. We should not be afraid to say that in this house. Independent Ireland will certainly be opposing the bill going forward," he added.
Deputy Collins said that under current regulations there are potential punishments for animal welfare violations including substantial fines and jail terms.
Independent Kerry TD Danny Healy-Rae said he had been contacted "from every corner of Kerry" by people wanting to stop this bill.
"All of us living in rural parts of Ireland know the damage that the fox has done and is doing. The numbers have increased to a massive amount altogether," he said.
The TD said that he was "certainly opposing this bill" and would call for a vote.
Government chief whip Mary Butler said that "as is normally the case with private members' business, the bill will not be opposed on first stage".
"That is the process. If and when the bill is listed for second stage, like all other private members' business, the government will then consider the matter at that point," she added.
Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy postponed the matter until tonight (Wednesday, May 28).
