LEGISLATION TO ban stag hunting took a long time to produce “to ensure it can survive legal challenge”, said Minister of State for Rural Affairs Mary White.
She told a meeting in Dublin, organised by the Irish Council Against Blood Sports, on the arguments against the hunting of deer with stag hounds, that the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill was expected in the Dáil by the end of May.
Ms White said: “Fianna Fáil voted unanimously to support the programme for government, which includes the ban on stag hunting.”
Her comments follow growing opposition to the Bill among rural Fianna Fáil TDs and the campaign by Rural Ireland Says Enough (Rise!) against the ban.
Asked by broadcaster Karen Coleman – who chaired the meeting – if Fianna Fáil would back the legislation given growing pressure, Ms White said there were aspects of the programme for government that were difficult for the Green Party and others which created problems for Fianna Fáil, “but you can’t have an a la carte government”.
Veterinary surgeon Finbarr Heslin criticised Fine Gael’s promise that in government, it would repeal the legislation if enacted.
He said the party should “stop Green bashing and canvass their own supporters”.
Mr Heslin highlighted a UK survey that said that 84 per cent of people were against a repeal of the stag-hunting ban.
The Conservatives pledged to repeal the law but 62 per cent of their supporters were against a change. A Fine Gael spokesman however restated the party’s opposition to the Bill and insisted that in government, it would “absolutely” repeal the law if enacted.
Socialist MEP Joe Higgins compared stag hunting to hunting cattle, because red deer were domestically raised. Stag hunting was like taking a bullock or heifer from grazing and having it set upon by a “baying pack of hounds, horses and human beings”.
Mr Higgins also called on the IFA and the ICMSA to “carefully consider” whether they supported the hunt because farming organisations depended on “millions of us buying their produce”.
A spokesman for the IFA said: “We don’t have any links with Rise! They are a separate organisation.” The IFA did have a presence at the protest outside the Green Party conference in Waterford protesting “against the introduction of the carbon tax on May 1st and the failure to reach renewable energy targets”.
The spokesman added: “I’ve no doubt there are some people who are members of the IFA who are involved in Rise! That wouldn’t be a surprise, but the IFA is a very separate organisation.”
A spokesman for the ICMSA questioned the Minister’s priorities and said there were matters a “great deal more pressing” for rural dwellers than stag hunting.
About 50 people attended the meeting and all speakers opposed stag hunting.
Noel Gregory, brother of late TD Tony Gregory, said he believed abuse of animals was one step away from the abuse of children.
