TAOISEACH BRIAN Cowen has given an assurance as head of Government that he will not in any circumstances support further restrictions on rural pursuits.
In a letter to Fianna Fáil TD for Meath East Mary Wallace, the Taoiseach rejected the claim that the ban on stag hunting was the thin end of the wedge in terms of the end of traditional field sports.
“Let me be absolutely clear: this Bill does no more than bring an end to the practice of stag hunting in Meath. Other rural pursuits such as shooting and fishing are simply not affected by this Bill and there is no other proposal before this Government to impact on these rural sports,” the letter said.
“Further, I do not envisage that such a proposal will be tabled in the lifetime of this Government but, even if it should be, I will not support it under any circumstances,” said Mr Cowen.
He gave the commitment to Ms Wallace following meetings with her regarding the future protection of angling, gun clubs and other rural sports and pursuits.
She spoke out strongly against the ban on stag hunting during the Dáil debate on the issue but voted with the Government on the Bill.
In his letter, the Taoiseach told Ms Wallace he accepted that the issue of the Ward Union hunt was very important for many of her constituents and he appreciated the sincerely-held concerns she had highlighted before and during the passage of the Bill through the Dáil.
“I thought it might be useful for me as head of Government to make a number of points on the Bill which has been passed by the Dáil and is now before the Seanad.”
Mr Cowen said the Wildlife Bill, dealing with stag hunting, was concerned with three specific issues, the prohibition of deer hunting with packs of dogs, increasing the various penalties for wildlife-related offences and addressing a problem with licences for hunting wild game. “It is important to stress that the vast majority of people engaged in hunting activities will continue to enjoy their pastimes following the enactment of this legislation and most will in fact benefit from it.”
