Joe O'Toole (Independent)

There is something wrong when the leafy suburbs of the city begin to write and implement the laws for the meadows, mountains and stony soil of rural Ireland.

I have put this to the Minister previously. I welcome the fact that he has involved the local authorities but he should operate according to the philosophy of the Green Party, namely, to devolve authority down as far as possible. Hunting and aspects of this legislation should be decided upon by local authorities. It is not the business of Government to make such decisions. Stag hunting or other types of hunting should be dealt with by the appropriate local authority. Let the people decide. We should do this within the drafting of general policy. In a sense we are turning out the lights in rural Ireland.

The Minister should let me give an example. I have nothing to do with hunting but I have lived in a hunting area for the past 35 years. I do not hunt myself. The Minister has heard me say this previously. In those 35 years of watching stag hunting or being aware of it happening in the vicinity, whatever number of hunts per year multiplied by 35 or 36 years, only two stags were ever put down. One was hit by a car and the other ran into a farmer's yard and he shot him. I do not think those elderly men on broad-backed horses ever get close enough to a stag to cause him any difficulty whatever. I do not agree with the concept of stress on the stag. I do not believe it is an issue of such importance to divide society.