Voting intention of two FF TDs unclear

THE VOTING intentions of two Fianna Fáil TDs regarding animal welfare legislation remained unclear after amendments to the Dog Breeding Establishment Bill were published yesterday.

The Bill returns to the Dáil for a final vote tomorrow afternoon. North Tipperary TD Máire Hoctor and Cork South West TD Christy O’Sullivan have expressed concerns about the impact of the proposed legislation on hunting packs.

The Hunting Association of Ireland will not be exempt from the legislation, although elements of the Bill relating to the greyhound industry will be inserted into an amended version of the 1958 Greyhound Industry Act.

Ms Hoctor said she had not yet studied the amendments. Mr O’Sullivan, who wrote to Taoiseach Brian Cowen recently to express the extent of his concerns, could not be reached for comment last night.

Tipperary South TD Mattie McGrath, who lost the party whip and has said he will vote against the Bill, last night described the amendments as “mumbo jumbo”.

A spokesman for Minister for the Environment John Gormley said the amendments followed detailed discussions between the Green Party and Fianna Fáil. The amendments were in line with the detail of the Minister’s address to the Dáil last Friday, he added.

Meanwhile, three Fianna Fáil Senators could lose the party whip if they abstain or vote against the Civil Partnership Bill, to be discussed in the Seanad today and tomorrow.

Senators John Hanafin, Labhras Ó Murchú and Jim Walsh have spoken out strongly against the proposed legislation. Mr Hanafin said they hoped amendments they proposed would be accepted. They would “move forward on that basis”, he said.

A spokesman for Government Chief Whip John Curran said: “Party rules are clear on this. Abstaining from votes or voting against the Government position means the automatic loss of the party whip.”

He cited the example of Senator Denis O’Donovan, from Bantry, Co Cork, who lost the whip recently after abstaining in a Seanad vote on the Dog Breeding Establishment Bill.