Animal Bills hidden agenda claims refuted
CLARA Councillor Barry Cowen has refuted claims that recently proposed bills have a 'hidden agenda' in relation to the hunting industry.
Cllr Cowen has issued a statement clarifying aspects of the two recently proposed Bills, the Wildlife Amendment Bill 2010 and Dog Breeding Bill.
“Having recently attended a public meeting organised by RISE, I feel it necessary to re-affirm the Bills’ contents and refute the claims by RISE that there is some wider agenda,” commented Cllr Cowen.
He said the renewed Programme for Government included a commitment to ban the practice of stag hunting with hounds adding that under existing wildlife legislation, the Minister can issue a licence for the hunting of deer by a pack of hounds. There is now only one remianing hunt club, the Ward Union Hunt, which continues to hunt deer using a pack of hounds and horses.
Cllr Cowen’s statement notes that the Minister issued a licence to this hunt club to hunt deer with a pack of hounds for the 2009/2010 season. This ended on March 31 of this year.
There was an incident a few years ago when a deer pursued by a pack of hounds entered a school yard, at Kildalkey, during the school day, an incident which the Minister considers to be totally intolerable. Since then, there have been other public safety incidents involving deer in flight leaping through hedges onto public roads.
As part of the legislative process it was necessary for the Department to prepare a Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) which is an assessment of the likely effects of the legislative change. The RIA procedure also provided for consultation with parties to ensure that their views and interests are understood and the Ward Union Hunt had been requested to make a submission on the likely impact of the legislation on their activities.
“RISE are wrong to suggest there is some wider agenda. Minister Gormley recently confirmed the legislation will not have any implications for other country pursuits such as fox hunting, hare hunting, hare coursing or deer stalking. This bill only affects those involved in stag hunting, any suggestion otherwise by RISE is misleading and false,” remarked Cllr Cowen.
He added that the Taoiseach recently said there had been some indication from some people that it represents a wider issue than the actual specific issue we’re dealing with, and it doesn’t.
“There isn’t an issue between the Coalition partners on the fact that there is a Bill, as you know, coming forward in relation to stag hunting, which in no way affects the wider issue of country pursuits generally. I’d like to make that clear,” said Cllr Cowen.
At present, a number of government TDs are making representations to Minister Gormley seeking an exemption to the greyhound industry under the dog breeding bill. He has met with them and listened to their concerns.
At present, under the bill a dog breeding establishment is defined as a premises with not less than six bitches of four months old capable of breeding. The Bill seeks to put the protection and welfare of all dogs in breeding establishments at its core, whether they are bred for sale as pets or for the racing.
“This bill is about ensuring the highest standard possible for our animals. The proposed legislation will not have any implications for other country pursuits such as fox hunting, hare coursing, fishing, deer stalking. All allegations that this is a threat to these industries is false,“ concluded Cllr Cowen.
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