CHARLIE TAYLOR

Minister for the Environment John Gormley said today he does not intend to exempt greyhounds and hunting packs from new dog-breeding regulations due to come before the Dáil next week.

Mr Gormley denied that he had decided to table additional amendments to the forthcoming Dog Breeding Establishments Bill in order to appease independent TDs and after lobbying from groups working in the dog breeding sector.

The Bill, which was introduced to prevent animal abuse in so-called puppy farms, is expected to be published tomorrow before going to a vote in the Dáil next week.

Earlier this week, Mr Gormley agreed a number of amendments to the bill in order to gain the support of Fianna Fáil backbenchers and independent TDs for the Stag Hunting Ban legislation. The Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2010 was passed by a slim majority on Tuesday.

Fianna Fáil and the Green Party confirmed separately last night to the Irish Times that they were close to compromise on the most contentious aspects of the Dog Breeding Establishment Bill, which was introduced to prevent animal abuse in so-called puppy farms.

Mr Gormley said today he had submitted a series of amendments to the Bill to the Taoiseach Brian Cowen which covered matters such as litter size and the definition of a breeding bitch.

A number of organisations including the Irish Greyhound Board have said that self-regulation of the dog breeding industry is sufficient.

Mr Gormley firmly rejected reports that he had agreed to further amendments which would see greyhounds and hunting dogs being exempted from the legislation.

“You cannot make exemptions for certain breeds of dog,” he told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland. “We have a terrible reputation in Europe. We’ve seen examples of animal cruelty and I want to bring that to an end and this legislation will do that but it will do it in a way that I think will meet the requirements of all the stakeholders.”

Independent TD Michael Lowry has claimed he has been given assurances these breeds would not be subject to strict new breeding and welfare rules to limit puppy farms and prevent abuse. Mr Lowry claimed Government Chief Whip John Curran confirmed last night and again this morning that significant amendments would be made to the Bill.

However, Mr Gormley said one option being considered by Government is an amendment to the 1958 Greyhound Industry Act to ensure joint inspections involving local authority inspectors and representatives from Bord na gCon, the body responsible for the greyhound sector in Ireland.

Fianna Fáil have removed the Party Whip from Deputy McGrath. The Labour Party has removed the Whip from Tommy Broughan TD because he refused to follow a party instruction to vote against the Bill.

This includes Fianna Fáil TDs who defy the Party Whip, Independent TDs who vote against the ban as well as candidates for Fine Gael, Labour and Sinn Féin. The three Opposition parties have confirmed that they are voting against the Bill.

A spokesman for RISE! said: ‘We have well over 50,000 people who have registered their support for us by signing our petition and they are concentrated in large numbers in thirty-three constituencies outside of Dublin city. Whenever the time comes, we will tell them how the TDs voted on Tuesday and advise them to cast their votes accordingly.’

The Dáil is due to vote on the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2010 next Tuesday evening.

28th June 2010

Stag Hunting Bill and the “Puppy Farm” Bill

I have given conditional support to this Government, qualified by the fact that it was dependent on them giving priority to a number of North Tipperary constituency issues whilst also addressing our national economic problems.

Our absolute priority must be the 500,000 people who are unemployed and getting them back to work. Our priority should be the thousands of young people crippled with mortgage repayments living in fear of losing their homes. Our priority should be the young people being forced to emigrate and the sick and infirm who are not able to access proper Healthcare. These should be the priorities of this Government, not a Stag in County Meath.

I do not consider, at this critical time in our nation’s history, that we should be spending Dáil time debating a stag hunting Bill and a “puppy farm” Bill. These Bills do not deserve the priority given them. When we all need to be working together to solve our country’s economic problems, the last thing we need is an issue that divides rural and urban Ireland. Therefore after today’s discussion with John Curran Government Chief Whip, I confirmed that I am not in a position to support this Stag Hunting Bill which threatens the future of hunting and coursing in Ireland. In advance of my discussions with the Chief Whip, I consulted with my Independent colleague Jackie Healy Rae T.D. who is equally concerned with the implications of this legislation for rural Ireland. Jackie Healy Rae is taking the same stand as myself on these two Bills. It is my firm intention to vote against the Bill and I will not be deflected from that decision.

In my political career, I have never witnessed such strong and passionate opposition to a proposed piece of legislation. It is not just hunters who have come knocking on my door, but also anglers, gun clubs, coursing clubs and farmers concerned about the future of live exports of cattle. In fact, an entire cross section of rural people in Ireland are frustrated and angry that this is an attack on rural country pursuits and farming.

I represent North Tipperary, a land famous for its long tradition of hunting, coursing, greyhound racing and a county proud to breed the best race horses in the world. It is my belief that it is not appropriate or correct that a small political party can impose its agenda in such a destructive manner on rural Ireland. As regards the Dog Breeding Bill, the Government will have my support and that of Jackie Healy Rae if they agree to the two following amendments.

A) That Groups affiliated to the Hunting Association of Ireland be granted a full and complete exemption from the requirement of the Regulations.

B) That Greyhounds must be removed from the Bill and the welfare of Greyhounds can be addressed by a simple amendment to the Greyhound Act of 1958 to allow that sport and industry to continue its commendable job as regards animal welfare, as it has done so satisfactorily since 1958.

We all agree that we need to address the issue of overbreeding of dogs in puppy farms but these two amendments that I propose allows the Minister to achieve his objectives without undermining the Greyhound, Coursing and Hunting industries.

The Taoiseach can continue to rely on my support once Fianna Fáil and the Green Party are concentrating on the priorities that need to be addressed at this time of crisis in our nation.

I recognise the contribution of the Green Party to Government and will be happy to support their policy initiatives regarding climate change, peak oil, wind energy and their constructive approach to economic issues.

Finally, people who farm and live in rural Ireland love and care for their animals and support animal welfare and well drafted, well intentional, well communicated legislation will get their their support.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0623/1224273111215.html

‘Weak’ proposals on dog law criticisedMARY MINIHAN

Wed, Jun 23, 2010

TIPPERARY NORTH TD Máire Hoctor has described amendments to controversial dog-breeding legislation proposed by Minister for the Environment John Gormley as “weak”.

Mr Gormley has outlined what he characterised as “significant concessions” on the Dog Breeding Establishments Bill in relation to micro-chipping, inspections, fees and breeding limitations.

A spokesman for the Greens in Government last night moved to play down recent clashes with rural Fianna Fáil deputies over the Bill, which Mr Gormley wants to become law before the Dáil’s summer recess. “It will be resolved,” he said.

However, Ms Hoctor insisted more time needed to be devoted to the proposed legislation. “The amendments are not alone weak, they are distant and removed from the amendments that were proposed to him [Mr Gormley] many weeks ago,” Ms Hoctor said.

“I’m also aware of the fact that the vast majority of the Green Party, with the exception of Mary White, is urban-based. I’ve become convinced that they don’t understand the significance of rural pursuits and the benefits that accrue to rural Ireland. It needs to be given more time.” The issue was raised at last night’s meeting of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party by a number of speakers.

Carlow-Kilkenny deputy Bobby Aylward said: “The Taoiseach said he was still in negotiations with Minister Gormley and we are hoping to get a little further down the line. He said he’d try to come back to us before it’s presented to the Dáil.” Mr Aylward said the issue of fees had been clarified to his satisfaction but the definition of a breeding bitch was “still a thorny issue”. The proposed law is expected to come to the Dáil on Friday of next week, and the Dáil is scheduled to rise for the summer the following Thursday, July 8th.

Fianna Fáil Senator Denis O’Donovan yesterday said he “had not abstained lightly” in a Seanad vote on the proposed legislation last week. He will meet with Government Chief Whip John Curran today to explain his actions. “I’ve laid out my stall,” Mr O’Donovan said. Mr Gormley’s proposed amendments include a “review clause” to examine the impact on the greyhound industry 12 months after the law has been introduced.

He said the amendments were an attempt to address concerns highlighted by the Irish Greyhound Board and the Irish Coursing Club. Ms Hoctor claimed the amendments did not address concerns of the Hunting Association of Ireland.

© 2010 The Irish Times

Monday June 21 2010

ENVIRONMENTAL crusader John Gormley is counting bats in the belfry at a cost of €60,000.

A nationwide survey on the long-eared Irish bat has been approved by the Environment Minister to establish how many of the protected nocturnal animals remain in the country.

It comes hot on the tails of a recent controversy when the minister signed off on a survey of Ireland’s frogs at a cost of €70,000.

Fine Gael was hopping mad at the expenditure, branding it “outrageous” given the country’s dire economic plight.

But wildlife officials in the Department of the Environment vigorously defend such projects as they frequently prevent native Irish animal species from becoming extinct.

Now more than 100 sites have been surveyed to find out exactly how many of the long-eared bats are left in the country.

And most of them have been found roosting in the belfries of churches, particularly old Church of Ireland establishments.

In fact, preliminary study findings have found the long-eared bats prefer Church of Ireland churches ahead of Catholic churches.

This is believed to be because these churches tend to have more spires and steeples.

The project, costing about €60,000 over three years, is mainly being carried out by bat-loving volunteers.

Many students and biologists from abroad come to Ireland to study at first-hand Ireland’s rare species of animals, such as the long-eared bat, the red squirrel, the red deer, the pine marten and the natterjack toad.

The bat project is a three-year monitoring programme in all counties funded by the National Parks and Wildlife Service and managed by Bat Conversation Ireland.

According to Bat Conservation Ireland, the huge ears of this bat are its most distinctive feature — they are almost as long as its body.

The group says that although they are probably quite common in Ireland, it is difficult to see long-eared bats in flight because they prefer to forage in woodland as they fly amongst the foliage, picking moths and other insects off leaves.

These bats emit quiet sounds through their nose.

The long-eared bat roosts in buildings such as houses with large attic spaces, churches, outbuildings and in tree holes.

- Treacy Hogan

Irish Independent