THE GOVERNMENT is confident it will win tonight’s Dáil vote banning stag hunting despite two defections and uncertainty over the intentions of a small number of Fianna Fáil deputies.
Independent TD Michael Lowry last night confirmed he would vote against the Government on the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2010.
He told Government Chief Whip John Curran that notwithstanding his arrangement to support the Government, he was also going to vote against the Dog Breeding Bill, unless hunting dogs and greyhounds were removed. The Bill will be debated later this week.
The other Independent TD who has supported the Government, Independent Kerry South TD Jackie Healy-Rae, said he would vote against the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill and he could not support the Green Party “in this attack on rural Ireland where it is a hugely important issue”.
At least two Fianna Fáil TDs have indicated they may not support the Bill brought forward by Minister for the Environment and Green Party leader John Gormley.
Even with the two defections and two abstentions, Government sources said that they were confident of a slim majority.
Two Independent TDs who normally vote with the Opposition, Finian McGrath and Maureen O’Sullivan, have said they will support the Bill for animal welfare purposes. The other Independent TD Joe Behan said yesterday he would vote against the Bill.
Meath East TD Mary Wallace attacked the stag-hunting legislation in the Dáil last week. One of seven Fianna Fáil TDs who spoke against the Bill in the House, she indicated then she may abstain in the vote. Her office said she would make no comment ahead of today’s Dáil debate.
Mattie McGrath, Tipperary South, said: “My vote is not guaranteed. I will consider my position seriously. It’s been rushed through.”
Máire Hoctor, Tipperary North, said she would not support the Bill unless it was amended to ensure that deer-stalking would not be banned. Deer-stalking does not involve breeding animals for the specific purpose of hunting.
The Minister’s spokesman said the Bill would be amended to protect deer-stalkers. Another amendment would address an anomaly in another Act that might prevent hunters renewing gun licences.
These amendments were being added to show the Minister’s bona fides and to prove this was not the “thin end of the wedge” for coursing, hunting, shooting and other country pursuits, he said.
Fine Gael, Labour and Sinn Féin will all oppose the legislation.
Mr Gormley expressed confidence yesterday that the Bill would be passed. “I believe at this stage that Fianna Fáil colleagues are committed to implement the Programme for Government commitment. They know that I am a reasonable person and this is not the thin end of the wedge.”
He is meeting four Fianna Fáil backbench TDs today: Mr McGrath, Christy O’Sullivan, Ms Hoctor and John McGuinness.