THE Dáil has voted against a Bill that sought to ban fox hunting in Ireland. The proposed legislation was brought forward by Ruth Coppinger TD (People Before Profit-Solidarity) and aimed to prohibit the hunting of foxes with hounds and related practices, citing animal welfare concerns.

During the debate at Leinster House on Wednesday, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, confirmed the Government opposed the Bill. He noted that foxes were not a protected species under Irish law and that fox control was already regulated through licensing, codes of practice and animal welfare legislation.

The Minister said it was not a “binary choice between being with us or against us” and that looking at it from this position “is deeply cynical and exploitative and it allows the serious issue of animal welfare to be used as a Trojan horse for a more divisive agenda”.

He agreed the issue was deeply emotive, but said “fox hunting represented a long-held tradition” and was a way of life for those involved. He said people were employed in this sector and “it is entirely disproportionate to try to make criminals of these people overnight for engaging in an activity that, in many cases, stretches back generations”.

Supporters of the Bill argued that fox hunting caused unnecessary suffering and that similar bans exist in other jurisdictions including the UK. Opponents argued that the Bill did not adequately distinguish between organised hunting and legitimate pest control. Some 24 TDs voted to amend the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 to ban the hunting of foxes, while 124 TDs voted against it.

‘Con job’

Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae criticised the Bill, arguing that it was misleading and would have unintended consequences for farmers and rural communities. He stated that fox control was an important tool for protecting livestock and warned that the legislation could criminalise lawful pest control activities.

Deputy Healy-Rae called the Bill a “con job” and said those who supported it were “giving the impression that this is about people up on horses with red coats and shouting ‘tally-ho’”. He also said fox hunting was part of the management of rural Ireland and that farmers would face financial losses if it’s outlawed.

“It’ll make you a criminal tomorrow if you want to go out and shoot those foxes,” he said, addressing Deputy Coppinger, who in turn reiterated that the Bill did not set out to outlaw the shooting of foxes on one’s land for the purpose of protecting livestock. Coppinger said some TDs were “wilfully misinterpreting” this aspect of the Bill.

Michael Collins TD (Ind) spoke of management issues. “Rural Ireland is a managed landscape and always has been,” he said. “Without management, it does not magically balance itself, but deteriorates. We only have to look at the deer crisis to see the consequences.”

Deputy Collins said Deputy Coppinger was touting “anti-rural poisonous ideology that wants to punish those who work to own land and work that land for the betterment of themselves and their communities.”

Reaction

Deputy Coppinger was very critical of Government parties and others who voted against the amendment. Describing fox hunting as “barbarism”, she said “there is overwhelming opposition” to it in Ireland, pointing to a survey showing 73 per cent of people rejected it.

The news of the defeat was broadly welcomed by the hunting fraternity with the North Kerry Harriers posting: “For those involved in hunting with hounds, farming, horses and countryside livelihoods - including landowners, farmers and the wider rural community - this outcome brings reassurance that our voices and lived experience were heard.”

Chairman of the Irish Masters of Foxhounds Association (IMFHA), Pat Hayes, said on behalf of the group: “We want to express our thanks to the Minister and all the Deputies who supported us in our endeavours to appeal against this bill. It’s been a very tough few months. This is a momentous day for those who hunt, fish, shoot or otherwise participate in rural activities. We live in a democracy and people are entitled to live and continue to manage the countryside and nature for the next generation.

“We have been managing nature and conservation through our programmes and the many fox coverts all over Ireland, where all kinds of flora and fauna thrive in these areas of conservation. We’d also like to thank all the associations who have stepped up and come together and we look forward to a bright future ahead.

“In particular, we would like to thank the people who participated in videos or other media initiatives, because it is not easy to put yourself out there. Across the past few years, many have been subject to threats and abuse, which is unacceptable. Conservation and control of wildlife populations is not always a comfortable subject, but it is a job that must be done. Where differences of opinion arise about methodologies, they should be discussed and debated in a respectful, educated and accurate manner.”