Rural protesters 'optimistic' some TDs will reject stag hunt Bill

MORE THAN 100 pro-hunting protesters gathered outside Leinster House last night after seven Fianna Fáil TDs, speaking in the Dáil chamber, denounced the proposed legislation to ban stag hunting.

Liam Cahill, a spokesman for Rise! (Rural Ireland Says Enough!), the group that organised the protest, said he felt “optimistic” some Fianna Fáil deputies would vote against the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill next week.

“I’m not going to name names but I do believe some deputies will vote against it. There could be some surprises.

“It’s a magic moment when an important Bill comes into the Dáil,” Mr Cahill said.

The Government deputies who complained about the proposed law – published by Minister for the Environment, John Gormley– were: former minister of state Mary Wallace of Meath East and her constituency colleague Thomas Byrne; Máire Hoctor of Tipperary North; Mattie McGrath of Tipperary South; Seán Power of Kildare South; Michael Kennedy of Dublin North; and Johnny Brady of Meath West. Mr Brady told the Dáil he would vote with the Government.

Among the protesters were three generations of one family: Michael McMahon, who lives in Temple Bar in Dublin, his daughter Georgina McMahon and grandson Michael McMahon, who all live in Bray, Co Wicklow.

“I’ve been stag-hunting for 27 years. Georgina’s hunted and little Michael will hunt when he’s old enough,” Mr McMahon said.

Labour and Fine Gael will oppose the proposed legislation, which will affect the only licensed hunt in the country, the Ward Union Hunt in Co Meath. Labour’s Joanna Tuffy said it did not address the concerns of the communities affected.

Mr Cahill also said he believed some Fianna Fáil TDs would oppose the Dog Breeding Establishments Bill, due to come before the Dáil for the first time on Friday July 2nd.

Earlier, Fianna Fáil Senator Denis O’Donovan was punished for abstaining in a Seanad vote on the Dog Breeding Establishment Bill last week by having the party whip removed. Mr O’Donovan, from Bantry in Co Cork, said he was not surprised but “felt a bit hard done by”. He abstained in the vote last Wednesday after Mr Gormley signalled a series of amendments he was preparing to introduce in the Dáil.

That sounded “too vague”, Mr O’Donovan said. “I’m the first victim of the dog breeding bill,” he added.

Fianna Fáil chief whip John Curran said a meeting was convened yesterday “to allow Senator O’Donovan to explain his abstention from a recent Seanad vote.

“Senator O’Donovan explained his reasoning . . . and consequently has lost the party whip.”