SEVEN FIANNA Fáil TDs spoke out in the Dáil yesterday evening against their own Government’s legislation to ban stag hunting.
While almost all of the rebel TDs are expected to vote for the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2010 in the Dáil on Tuesday the scale of the revolt came as a shock to Ministers.
With further Green Party-inspired animal welfare legislation, which has generated opposition in Fianna Fáil, due to come before the Dáil later next week, the cohesion of the Coalition will be tested before the summer recess.
Green Party leader and Minister for the Environment John Gormley listened as a string of Fianna Fáil speakers denounced the ban on stag hunting during an ill-tempered debate following the introduction of the Bill in the Dáil yesterday.
Of the eight Fianna Fáil TDs who spoke during yesterday’s second stage debate, only one, Minister of State Martin Mansergh, backed the Bill.
Three of the Fianna Fáil TDs for Meath expressed outright opposition to the Bill, which affects the Ward Union Hunt. The hunt is based in Co Meath and in north Co Dublin.
Meath West Fianna Fáil TD Johnny Brady warned the Minister, the Taoiseach and members of the Government “that they cannot depend on my support whether this Government lasts two months or two years . . . if anything else is tinkered with you have not my support’’.
Thomas Byrne from Meath East questioned the constitutionality of the legislation and suggested President Mary McAleese should refer it to the Council of State. Mary Wallace, also from Meath East, said the ban represented a threat to the rural economy and said she had deep reservations about it.
Dublin North TD Michael Kennedy said there should be an impact assessment undertaken on the issue.
Fine Gael Meath East TD Shane McEntee also pleaded with the Minister to defer the Bill, saying there would be more blood spilled in Croke Park on Sunday when Dublin played Meath than there would be in 10 years of the Ward Hunt.
Mr Gormley said the decision to introduce the legislation was not taken lightly and insisted there were public safety issues involved, as it was simply not possible for the hunt to prevent deer in flight from leaping through hedges on to public roads.
The Minister attacked Labour for its opposition to the Bill. “I am disappointed at the cynical decision by the Labour Party to abandon its opposition to blood sports,” he said.
He said senior members of the party, including its current leader Eamon Gilmore and former leaders Pat Rabbitte and Ruairí Quinn, had publicly stated their opposition to blood sports, including stag hunting. “It appears that for Labour Party members no principle is too cherished to be abandoned if they believe there are votes in it for them.”
Michael D Higgins responded it was outrageous to suggest Labour favoured cruelty or blood sports.
Meanwhile, the party whip was removed from Fianna Fáil Senator Denis O’Donovan for abstaining in the Seanad vote on the Dog Breeding Establishment Bill last week.