Countryside Alliance Ireland - love the countryside

A meeting took place between Mr. Lyall Plant, Chief Executive, Countryside Alliance Ireland, Mr. D.J. Histon, Chief Executive/ Secretary, ICC, and Mr. Martin Ferris, Sinn Fein at Leinster House on Thursday, May 21.

The following update was issued by Sinn Fein:

A motion passed at the Sinn Féin Ard Fhéis in February regarding the banning of hare coursing and hunting has caused considerable upset, not least among Sinn Féin members and supporters who are involved in the sport or who appreciate the tradition behind these sports and its place in rural communities the length and breadth of the country.

Apart from the tradition and the history associated with these sports, including my own part of North Kerry, I am also conscious of the conservation role played by hunts and coursing clubs and the contribution generated by both of these country sports in economic terms to the rural economy. There are thousands of people directly involved in the greyhound and equine industry as trainers and owners, not to mention the large crowds who attend events on an annual basis and the economic multiplier effect all of that has in terms of generating spending within the economy. It is for this reason that I pointed out in a report which was recently passed by the Oireachtas Agriculture Committee, that strongly rooted indigenous rural industries are maintained and developed.

The motion itself was tabled by a Dublin city cumann and was narrowly passed during a poorly attended section of the Ard Fhéis. Unfortunately I myself, who was to speak in opposition to the motion, was detained by a radio interview at the time and the two cumainn which had tabled motions supporting our previous position on hunting and coursing failed to provide speakers. That was a clear shortfall on our part.

Had there been a proper debate, and had coursing and hunt supporters had the opportunity to put forward the facts regarding their recognised activity, and to counter the misconceptions many people have about them, I have no doubt that the motion would have been defeated.

As things stand, however, I am bound by the motion but I am certain many cumainn around the country, will ensure that it is challenged at next year’s Ard Fhéis and that it will be defeated. The only assurance I can give in the meantime is that Sinn Féin will be part of no legislative effort to ban hunting and coursing either in the 26 or the 6 counties.

Martin Ferris