WITH a bill proposing a ban on foxhunting to come before the Dáil for debate on December 17th, the issue is making waves. This week, TD Jennifer Whitmore (Social Democrats) took on Minister of State Michael Healy-Rae (Ind) in a fiery debate on David McCullogh’s show on RTÉ Radio One.

Whitmore argued that foxhunting was cruel and outdated, citing a 2019 poll where 77% of Irish people and 74% of rural people supported a ban. Healy-Rae countered, emphasising the government’s commitment to animal welfare and the need to control fox populations for biodiversity and farmer protection.

“I really don’t understand how we still allow it to happen,” Whitmore said.

“I just don’t see any purpose to it, other than it being an elite blood sport, where you have a very small percentage of the population participating in something the vast majority of people believe is wrong and is cruel. And I think to conflate rural people with a cruel sport is an unfair way of representing it.”

In response Healy-Rae, who is an independent but supports the government, said: “The government is fully committed to upholding standards in animal welfare and ensuring compliance with legislation.

“When this matter was debated in the Dáil a number of years ago, a lengthy debate took place and the Dáil voted overwhelmingly to allow the continuation of foxhunting in accordance with the appropriate code of conduct. Jennifer is aware of this. We have to ensure that we keep the numbers in check for one to allow for the breeding of very important wildlife and birds that we have nesting on the ground.

“Farmers are the people who produce food, who produce lambs - you tell a farmer whose lambs have been attacked by foxes that well, they shouldn’t really be too worried about the lambs, but they should be worried about the foxes? There is nothing cruel about keeping animals in check.”

Deputy Whitmore went on to argue that foxhunting and pest control were not the same thing.

“The minister is conflating foxhunting with pest control,” she said. “If a farmer was reliant on a hunt to come through his land to control foxes that are out attacking his sheep, it is a very inefficient way of actually controlling pests.

“Foxes are controlled by farmers using guns, so this isn’t an argument about reducing the farmers’ ability to control pests on their land.”

Asked how the bill might fare, Deputy Healy-Rae said: “The government has absolutely no proposals whatsoever to change the existing legislation.”

Asked if he accepted that foxhunting was cruel, Deputy Healy-Rae said: “No, because what I do accept is that what happens is absolutely 100% carried out in a proper way. There are codes of conduct in place in respect of the hunting of foxes and the treatment of animals during hunts.

“And when we speak about animal welfare, we speak about all animals, including lambs that are attacked and killed by foxes and including the very important wildlife and birds, which are a prey for foxes. If she (Deputy Whitmore) wants to allow their numbers to grow without any check whatsoever, they will be hunted, and the birds will be killed.”

In conclusion, Deputy Whitmore said: “I don’t think I’ve heard such a lot of rubbish in such a long time to be honest.”

The Animal Health and Welfare Bill amendment was proposed by People Before Profit-Solidarity TDs Ruth Coppinger and Paul Murphy. The debate on December 17th is the second stage of the Bill’s progression with committee and report stages and further voting in both houses still ahead of it.