TAOISEACH BRIAN Cowen said Fianna Fáil did not disagree with the Green Party on the issue of stag hunting, as he faced a noisy demonstration from pro-hunt campaigners in Roscrea, Co Tipperary.
Mr Cowen said he wanted to clarify that proposed legislation, the Wildlife Amendment Bill 2010, which will make hunting deer with a pack of hounds an offence, did not affect other pursuits.
“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,” he told reporters.
“There has 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.”
Participants in a demonstration organised by Rural Ireland Says Enough (RISE!) whistled, jeered and shouted “Tally ho!” as the Taoiseach arrived to perform the official opening of a leisure centre in Roscrea, Co Tipperary.
While RISE! spokesman Joe Griffin said about 200 people attended, a Garda spokesman said 50-60 people were present. Mr Griffin said those involved in fox hunting, greyhound racing, deerstalking, coursing and gun clubs were represented at the protest. He said hundreds of jobs depended on the continuation of such pursuits.
Mr Griffin said the demonstrators wanted to “stop these ludicrous Greens ramming home their fundamentalist policies”.
The perception that the issue was one of concern only to rural people was incorrect, he said, adding Green chairman Senator Dan Boyle from Cork, was “seeking to get elected where there are thousands of hunters in his constituency”.
Responding to the RISE! comments, a Green Party spokesman said the organisation was “intent on spreading misinformation and misunderstanding”.
He said two very specific measures had been agreed and were being implemented by the Coalition. One was the ban on stag hunting and the other was the Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009, which he said would control the breeding of dogs in large numbers.
Earlier, Mr Cowen performed the official opening of an extension to Scoil Iosef Naofa, Corville, Roscrea, which was also attended by the Bishop of Killaloe Dr Willie Walsh, a former pupil.
There was a moment of levity when Mr Cowen was unable to open the door of the extension, and the school’s headmaster had to send some pupils to fetch the key.
Tipperary North TDs Maire Hoctor of Fianna Fáil, Independent deputy Michael Lowry and Fine Gael TD Noel Coonan were among those present, along with former minister Michael Smith.