Madam, – Although I am disgusted and disheartened at one level, to see the outcry by backbenchers in relation to animal rights issues in the Dáil, in comparison to the relative silence from the same TDs in relation to matters of human rights and measures that impact the vulnerable, I feel we need to look at what leads to such scenarios.
It is obvious that the backbench TDs in question expressed their objections to the stag hunting Bill on the basis that they were from rural areas and on the receiving end of a lot of lobbying by rural groups and their “constituents” over the recent weeks. The TDs realised in order to protect their vote at the next election, they needed to be seen to be against the Bill. On the other hand, they didn’t feel the need to replicate the same public objections on the social welfare, health and education cuts that went through the Dáil in the past 12 months.
The TDs are self-serving, essentially, so their actions are to be expected. However, this must reflect badly on us, as a population and as an electorate, because these TDs obviously believe their electorate will forgive and forget their silence on the “human rights”-based decisions, but not on decisions involving animal rights. Where are our priorities as a society, one must surely ask? – Is mise,
NIGEL O’NEILL,
Rochestown,
New Ross,
Co Wexford.
A chara, – Do people who deny the cruelty of blood sports also deny the facts of evolution? Namely, that we share many characteristics with our animal cousins including sentience and the sensations of fear and pain? – Is mise,
ALEX STAVELEY,
Turvey Walk,
Donabate,
Co Dublin.
Madam, – Now that stag hunting has been banned for being cruel to animals, might I suggest a new more humane and possibly more popular sport, whereby the guilty bankers and developers who caused the present economic disaster be rounded up and released into the countryside with a five-minute head start before all the dogs are released? – Yours, etc,
Madam, – I’d suggest the whips removed from a number of TDs be put to good use in attempting to bring some order to the house after Tuesday’s mayhem! – Yours, etc,