Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

This section allows the Minister to repeal section 26 of the Wildlife Act 1976. The fact we have that Act, and an amendment to it in 2000, is a clear indication that there was some concern about the activities involving animals. Regulations and monitoring were put in place and they have stood the test of time. The Departments of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, and Agriculture, Forestry and Food, and all those who wanted to inspect the activities related to stag hunting, were able to do so under proper supervision.

I cannot see why the Minister wants to amend the section of the principal Act to remove his power to grant a licence authorising the hunting of deer. That is the fundamental issue associated with the legislation and the Minister still has the opportunity to bring forward additional regulations if he feels it appropriate rather than an outright ban on stag hunting. In his zealousness to pursue a narrow agenda, making the Government uncomfortable and giving rise to instability in the Government, the Minister is acting in a completely irresponsible manner by proceeding along this road and implementing legislation that is clearly out of sync with rural Ireland. The vast majority of Government Deputies have to be hounded in here tonight by the Whips to ensure the Government's survival. That is not the way to build trust between Government partners.

The Minister should introduce additional amendments to allay the fears of his Fianna Fáil partners who spoke against the Bill but then voted for it on Second Stage. There will be another vote at 7 p.m. and they will have another opportunity to say whether they agree with the contents of this and other sections. I ask the Minister to be reasonable to those people who have asked him to be genuine and to look at additional regulations instead of an outright ban on stag hunting.

I look forward to his reply that will reflect the views of his colleagues in Government who have put themselves on the line in their constituencies for the Minister and this legislation which he insisted on putting in the revised programme for Government so he could get approval for fiscal parameters to be pursued in the budgetary process in 2010 and for his support for the ill-conceived NAMA legislation. That, however, is no surprise because the Minister was asleep when the bank guarantee scheme was being agreed.

A sense of priority is required about the Minister's actions, which have brought about mistrust because of his insistence on narrow legislation being passed this week and next week, legislation that should not be a priority for any Government when we face such serious economic and social difficulties.

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