Annie Hoey (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I rise to address a very grave issue, the resurgence of animal cruelty, specifically through the barbaric practice of cockfighting. Despite our progress in animal welfare and this cruel practice being outlawed almost 200 years ago, this disgusting spectacle has seen a troubling revival. Footage obtained by Noteworthy shows horrific battles being held in backyards as well as in purpose-built cockpits, where the birds fight until they collapse. Those involved in this sadistic sport range in ages and backgrounds, including animal breeders, members of the Defence Forces and a foreign government official based in Ireland.

This is not just a remnant of a cruel past; it is a blatant act of violence that inflicts unnecessary suffering on defenceless creatures for mere entertainment and profit. The animals are often drugged, equipped with sharp spurs and forced to fight to the death, resulting in horrific injuries and death. This resurgence signals not only a disregard for animal welfare laws but a disturbing tolerance for cruelty. The suffering and stress the animals endure is inconceivable.

We have to get real about animal welfare in Ireland. On a number of occasions here this year, I have highlighted the cruelty faced by animals. On Tuesday, 20 February, I had a Commencement matter on dog breeding; on 27 February, I raised the need for a wildlife crime unit; and on Wednesday, 6 March, I raised the horrific conditions faced by pigs in pig farming, revealed by undercover work by the National Animal Rights Association. In previous years, I raised cruelty in the dairy industry, Dublin Zoo and multiple places and organisations we deem to be not only perfectly acceptable but bastions of Irish life. At what point will we have a conversation in this House, a House where we have historically hashed out difficult and controversial topics, about the fact unfettered animal cruelty is going unpunished because our laws are not fit for purpose, we do not have a designated animal welfare crime unit and our animal rescues are astonishingly underfunded and overworked? We also have deplorable animal cruelty in our legal and State-sanctioned animal extortion industries, such as pig farming, the dairy industry, live exports of weaned calves and plenty of others the Acting Leader and I know all about. I ask the Acting Leader to facilitate a much-needed and overdue debate on the reality of animal welfare in Ireland.