This following press statement was released from the office of Michael Lowry TD at 7.38pm yesterday evening. Part of this Press Release reads as follows and I will leave our viewers to read between the lines.
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 Health-care. 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 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 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 over breeding 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.
What Do Youth, Low Paid Workers, Lone Parents, Social Welfare Recipients and Elderly Pensioners Think
Much of what happens in the Dáil these days to the above named, continues to defy their basic understanding, as indeed it does myself.
We read constantly, nay, almost daily, the thieving antics of Fianna Fáil and it’s supporting TDs, who now apparently have realised, for the first time, that they oppose the new proposed Stag Hunting Bill.
Continue reading Methinks, Mr Lowry And Horse Dealing Friends Doth Protest Too Much
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