Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)

A different approach could be taken to the protection of wildlife and the Labour Party has a very strong record in this regard. When Deputies Michael D. Higgins and Brian O'Shea were Ministers or Ministers of State in the last Government involving the Labour Party, they made progress in respect of the Ward Union Hunt and other matters related to animal welfare. For example, Deputy Brian O'Shea was the Minster of State who introduced the muzzling of greyhounds during coursing. Progress was achieved but not in the divisive way the Minister is making progress now.

When the issue was raised in the Dáil by Deputy Sargent in 1997, the then Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Michael D. Higgins, referred to the Ward Union Hunt in reply to questions put. He provided an update about how he had issued a licence which was limited to the following March. The licence was subject to the condition that he could appoint persons to undertake monitoring of the Ward Union Hunt club. An official from the NPWS monitored the hunt on 15 January of that year and had arranged for an official from the Department for Agriculture, Food and Forestry to undertake ongoing monitoring of the hunt until the ending of the licence. Factual reports on the hunt were to be provided, dealing with the health and condition of the animal before and after the hunt, the treatment of the animal during the hunt, the conduct of the hunt and the impact of the hunt on the lands over which it passed. Such monitoring led to considerable improvements which the current Minister has used when issuing licences for the hunt.

When the Minister issued the most recent licence for the hunt, with 28 conditions, he was building on the work done by Deputy Michael D. Higgins. When Deputy Higgins discussed the matter in the House he indicated his wish to ensure the process of review put in place for the licensing of stag hunting would take into account all issues and viewpoints, including those adverted to by Deputies. He listened to all sides of the House and talked to all shades of opinion on the issue in the wider community and in society. That is a better way to approach this issue. As a result, he brought in far-reaching improvements to the licensing of the hunt. He introduced 34 conditions, including measures to ensure the welfare of the animals would be protected through inspection by vets and to ensure the stag would be released in plenty of time to be well ahead of the dogs and so on. The current Minister has used those conditions in the licensing of hunt. The Labour Party approach achieved much progress. The Ward Union Hunt bought into the process and has made major changes and improvement in the years since 1997. This has all been based on monitoring, research and consultation with the stakeholders.

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