Madam, – Your report on the “scale of FF backbench revolt” (Front page, June 25th), referred to the positions taken by Fianna Fáil TDs such as three from Co Meath who “expressed outright opposition to the Bill”. Johnny Brady warned the Minister, Taoiseach and members of the Government, “They cannot depend on my support whether this Government lasts two months or two years . . .”; Thomas Byrne questioned the constitutionality of the Bill; Michael Kennedy wanted an impact assessment undertaken on the issue and Mary Wallace uttered something similar.
Were they taking such vehement opposition to Nama, the closing of hospital wards and schools, the threat to cut social welfare again or the slashing of grants to old people’s security in their homes?
No, their passion and ire was drummed up on a Bill about stag hunting. There are no words left in the English language to describe these people that I haven’t already heard. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – It appears, after a Labour Party U-turn (Mary Minihan’s report, “Labour to oppose bill on stag hunting”, June 24th), that Emmet Stagg and Pat Rabbitte are going to vote against legislation that bans bloodsports.
Is this really a case of turkeys voting for Christmas? – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Much that happens in the Dáil these days defies understanding. While reading about the animated antics of a number of Fianna Fáil TDs who oppose the stag-hunting ban proposals (Front page, June 25th), it struck me that while the Government was handing out untold pain and suffering to lone parents, welfare recipients, low-paid workers, etc, (and at the same time pouring billions into black holes to bail out the wealthy), it remained moribund by contrast. It seems animal welfare matters excite parts in a way that human welfare issues cannot reach.
Maybe those who make representations on behalf of the most vulnerable humans might investigate what magic ingredient lies behind this phenomenon. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – It seems as if there is a great deal more heat than light regarding the legislation to ban stag hunting. If it is about animal welfare and the stress levels of the stag and the possibility of people being injured, then, on all the same grounds, surely we should also ban horse racing, particularly over jumps and hurdles, since it kills more animals and injures more people every year?
But of course we’re not going to do that because the stag hunting ban isn’t really about animal welfare or public safety. Nor are the defences of stag hunting about culling the herds. The whole debate is a kind of coded argument about some unstated agenda.
I expect if the advocates on either side were required to come out and state plainly what their agenda is, those of us who are dispassionate observers would either die laughing or be appalled. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Maybe those manly Fianna Fáil TDs who unleashed their pent-up anger against the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2010 (Front page, June 25th) will now change horses and whips and form the Stag Party? – Yours, etc,