THE Dáil has voted to pass the first stage of a piece of legislation seeking to ban fox hunting, however the Government is expected to oppose the Bill when it comes before the Dáil again.

The Animal Health and Welfare Bill was proposed by People Before Profit-Solidarity TDs Ruth Coppinger and Paul Murphy. The vote on Wednesday was called by Independent TD Danny Healy-Rae and Michael Collins of Independent Ireland, who oppose the bill, with 113 TDs voting in favour and 49 against.

A vote at the first stage such as this was, according to a government spokesperson, ‘undemocratic and unprecedented’.

“We are clear that the vote should not have been called at this stage, and it is not good practice for TDs to be denied their right to table bills,” they said. “For that reason, the Government will vote for the Bill at first stage, but will oppose it at second stage.”

A Bill must pass through five, often lengthy, stages in both the Dáil and Seanad including committee stage, report stage and further voting in both houses, before it can be enacted.

Ms Coppinger said fox hunting was one of Ireland’s most inhumane activities and that the country was now an outlier with fox hunting banned in England, Scotland and Wales.

“Foxes are still dug out of the ground and attacked by trained terriers, they are still chased by packs of dogs, sometimes for hours and torn apart when caught,” Ms Coppinger said.

“If a domestic animal was treated like this, there would be an outcry. I believe fox hunting is a cruel and inhumane so-called blood sport.”

She said the proposed amendment to the Animal Health and Welfare act would make fox hunting an illegal and unlawful activity.

Independent Ireland TD Michael Collins said he opposed the changes Ms Coppinger was proposing, arguing that foxes posed a huge threat to farmers.

“Foxes are classified as a pest species, that is a fact whether we agree or disagree,” he said. “There are up to 200,000 foxes in Ireland at the moment and they can cause serious concern to many farmers.

“We have to have some kind of controls because the next thing we will be inside here looking to see if we can protect the rat and the mouse. Nobody wants to protect human beings.

“I have heard many times over the years that a fox broke into the henyard and destroyed every hen that was inside in the yard.

“Foxes are also a threat to our native birds, and a threat to our young lambs, so we do have to have controls; controls in relation to the fox, controls in relation to the hare, and we should not be afraid to say that,” Mr Collins said.

Independent TD Danny Healy-Rae, who supports the Government, said he was also opposed to the bill.

“From every corner of Kerry, people have rang and sent emails to ensure that we stop this before it is started,” he said.

“Every one of us that is living in rural Ireland knows the damage a fox has done and is doing. The numbers have increased massively.

“I would be looking for common sense to prevail. Foxes prey not just on young lambs and fowl, but they also pose a great threat to many of our native birds who we are very anxious to protect and are an endangered species in this country.”

Chair of the Irish Masters of Foxhounds Association (IMFHA) Pat Hayes said hunting provided billions of euros either directly or indirectly to the Irish economy – particularly the rural economy. 

“All of us that hunt reside in, support and farm in our local communities. Fox hunting performs a natural vermin control function, but it also plays a significant part in the maintenance of old woodland, coverts, bogs and other habitats where not only the fox seeks refuge, but also millions of other small birds, mammals, insects and flora,” he said.

Hayes argued that if hunting was banned, then, logically, coursing, shooting, falconry, fishing, dog racing and horse racing are also under threat.