Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)

This is from the man who claims to be 50% homosexual. There are ways and means of dealing with aggression in a managed and controlled manner. If people want to have the thrill of the hunt, they can have hounds chase a scent either by releasing the deer or dragging the scent before the hunt.

To return to Deputy Tuffy's remarks, the Minister clearly indicated that if requests are made on a case by case basis, permission could be granted in the case of a certain breed of deer that needed to be culled throughout the year. It will not be permissible to cull female deer of other species during the season in which fauns would be at risk of being orphaned. The Minister will have the power to oversee this matter and he and, no doubt, his successors will take full cognisance of these responsibilities. While the Deputy's amendment is a welcome attempt to produce constructive legislation, as the Minister stated, it falls short at the final hurdle.

I will reluctantly address Deputy Hogan's accusation that the Minister is afraid to deal with the Dublin Docklands Development Authority (Amendment) Bill. As has been stated on countless occasions, it was the Minister who established the investigations into the Dublin Docklands Development Authority. He had the balls to ask the wife of one of his greatest political adversaries, an independent, strong-minded and qualified individual, to deal with this issue without fear or favour. The Minister does not speak from both sides of his mouth.

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