Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)

I shall take a few seconds to register my opposition to this Bill and my support for the Ward Union Hunt and hunts in general. I have spent all my life living beside the Meath Hunt and have watched it in operation. I watched how its members treat their dogs and run their business. I do not get a chance to follow or watch the Ward Union Hunt and its business but I know many of the people involved. They treat animals and operate in exactly the same way as the Meath Hunt. They have respect for animals and know what they are doing. They care for them and everything is done under proper conditions. From monitoring the hunt, I am glad to say it has reacted to urban living. It has made adjustments to how it does its business.

This is a misguided attempt to end something that is part of rural life. It is an attack on rural Ireland and is causing an unnecessary divide between rural and urban dwellers. The Minister is putting the fear of God into people who just want to be left alone to go about their business as they always have done, whether stag hunting, fox hunting, fishing, shooting or whatever interests them. Most people believe this is only the start and that the Minister fully intends to go further. He already has another wildlife Bill on the way in some months and God knows what will be added in that. It is unfair and wrong and is an abuse of power-----

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