In reply to Mr Fitzgerald’s letter in the Independent (Monday Oct. 12), the animal rights lobby has taken Ireland into dangerous territory in which we in rural communities stand united in protecting what we hold dear.
The Green Party has moved away from it’s core principles in terms of sustainable energy, clean rivers, supporting agri-business and enabling communities to live and work in rural Ireland to an agenda led by animal rights activists who have far-reaching goals that could destroy the Irish countryside and its traditional way of life as we know it.
Live export of animals would disappear. Coursing would disappear. Shooting and fishing would disappear. The list is endless.
Ireland’s traditional sporting and agricultural traditions are united in opposition to the animal rights agenda of the Green Party.
Former MEP Patricia McKenna exposed the new power behind Mr Gormley and the Green Party recently — animal rights groups.
The minister spent two hours with the Irish animal rights activists in the run-up to the referendum on Lisbon. He also had time to take submissions on puppy farm legislation from groups in the UK who do not support traditonal field sports and have no mandate in the Republic of Ireland. But he ignored a submission from the Hunting Association of Ireland (HAI) which represents 3000,000 Irish people whose sport contributes 34 million Euros annually to the rural economy.
Country people in Ireland have been awoken and are standing up to an unrepresentative group who are trying to destroy our way of life. We support and promote animal welfare but will stand united in the campaign against animal rights, to protect the countryside as we know it and love it.
James Phelan
Tags: Green Party
In the Monday issue of the Independent the political minefield in which Hunting must now operate was made painfully clear. During the recent negotiations between the Green Party and the Government, Hunting was once again used as cheap bargaining tool. In order for the government to achieve the Green’s approval for NAMA ten items of the Green’s prioritized wish list were granted. Number 3 on this list was “End Stag Hunting”. This so called sweetner for the Green Party is a very bitter pill for the Hunting community in this country. At least this current process of horse trading has removed any wool from our eyes. Hunting has a major battle for survival on its hands. For all of us who live in the countryside and love and enjoy country sports the time has come to make our voice heard. Please make your voice heard by contacting your local TD and or writing to your local papers with the positive news about Hunting. The news that over 300,000 people in this country participate in country sports and we are here to stay! we will not be banned by cheap political antics from a party which is unrepresentative and uninformed about country life.
Tags: Green
Hunting with hounds is a tradition in Ireland that goes back to ancient times and features strongly in Celtic literature and legend, but never in our history has hunting been so popular. In twenty-first century Ireland as many as 300,000 people from every walk of life, between the years of 8 and 80, participate in some form of the sport. It is quite common to find three generations of a family hunting together.
HAI works for everyone who loves the countryside and the rural way of life. Through campaigning, lobbying, publicity, and education the Association influences legislation and public policy that impacts on the countryside, rural people, and their activities.
The six constituent bodies are:
- The Irish Foot Harriers Association;
- The Irish Masters of Harriers Association;
- The Irish Masters of Foxhounds Association;
- The Irish Masters of Beagles Association;
- The Irish Masters of Mink Hounds Association;
- The Ward Union Staghounds.
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Tags: About Us, HAI, Hunting in Ireland
