Animal Voice Jan 2010

An Irish Council Against Blood Sports Newsletter. January 2010

For more campaign news, updates and action alerts, please visit our websites:www.banbloodsports.com,www.youtube.com/icabs,www.myspace.com/banbloodsports, www.bebo.com/banbloodsports,www.twitter.com/banbloodsports, www.scribd.com/banbloodsports

01. Hunt ban legislation will be published "as soon as possible"

Environment Minister, John Gormley, will publish legislation to ban the Ward Union "as soonas possible". The Minister made the statement in response to a Dail question from pro-hunting Fine Gael TD, Shane McEntee.

"I continue to believe that this particular hunting practice should cease for animal welfare and publicsafety reasons," the Green Party leader told the Meath TD. You can read the full text of the Dailquestion and answer below.

Please email "I support the banning of the Ward Union" tominister@environ.ieor phone your message in to the Minister on Tel: 01 888 2403

If you live in Shane McEntee's constituency, please remind him that you are one of the majority of Meath residents who want the Ward Union banned. Contact him atshane.mcentee@finegael.ie or Tel: 01 6184447To read the full text of the Dail question and answer, visitwww.banbloodsports.com, click on LatestNews and scroll down to "Hunt ban legislation will be published "as soon as possible" (14 January2010 entry)

02. Cancel the coursing licence extension: Renewed appeal

ICABS has renewed its appeal to Green Party leader and Environment Minister, John Gormley,to cancel a licence extension he promised to hare coursers.

The extension, which was due to be granted early in the new year, would allow coursers to continueterrorising hares into the month of March. Please help save hares from the cruelty of coursing.Respond now to our updated action alert.

Please email "Minister Gormley - Revoke the coursing licence and cancel the extension" to

minister@environ.ieMinister John GormleyDepartment of the EnvironmentCustom House, Dublin 1.Tel: 01 888 2403. Fax: 01 878 8640.

SAMPLE LETTER

(Please compose your own personal letter or send the following sample letter. Be assertive, butpolite, in all correspondence. Thank you.)Dear Minister John GormleyI am one of the majority opposed to the cruel blood sport of hare coursing.I am writing to demand that you immediately revoke the licence you granted to coursers and cancelthe licence extension you promised to these wildlife abusers. As the leader of a party with anti-bloodsports policies, how can you possibly justify licensing this cruel activity? You are more than awarethat hares suffer from the moment they are snatched from the wild in nets, during their time incaptivity and while they are being chased by the greyhounds. When hit, they sustain agonising life-threatening injuries, including broken bones. The cruelty of coursing is clear to see atwww.youtube.com/watch?v=D58qbzC-GI4I strongly urge you to revoke the current licence, cancel the extension and urgently put in placepermanent protection for this most timid and treasured of species.Thank you. I eagerly await your positive action.Yours sincerely,[Your name and location]

03. Urgent appeal to Minister: Don't exempt hunts from fees

ICABS is urging Minister John Gormley to drop proposals to exempt blood sports groupsfrom fees under the new Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009. Please support our urgentaction alert now.

According to a statement issued by the Green Party leader last month, "It is proposed that huntclubs...would be exempt from paying fees but must register and be subject to possible inspection."In a letter to Minister Gormley, ICABS has appealed for the proposal to be scrapped."We remind you, Minister, that these hunting hounds are used for the most horrendous cruelty to Irishanimals," we stated in our correspondence. "These dogs chase wildlife across the countryside, catchthem and rip their bodies asunder."We added: "This bill is a tremendous opportunity for you to introduce a financial disincentive for thebreeding of these killer dogs and move a step closer to your party's promise to ban blood sports. Wehope you will take this opportunity and firmly reject the proposal to exempt hunting groups."You can read the full text of Minister Gormley's statement on the Green Party website

Minister Gormley has said his intention is to have the Bill introduced to the Houses of theOireachtas early this year and enacted at the earliest possible date. Please act now to urgehim to drop the proposal to exempt hunts. Email "No exemption for hunt groups under DogBreeding Bill" tominister@environ.ie

Minister John GormleyDepartment of the EnvironmentCustom House, Dublin 1.Tel: 01 888 2403. Fax: 01 878 8640.

SAMPLE LETTER

(Please compose your own personal letter or send the following sample letter. Be assertive, butpolite, in all correspondence. Thank you.)Dear Minister GormleyI am very concerned to learn that there is a proposal to exempt blood sports groups from fees under the new Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009.According to a statement you released last month 'It is proposed that hunt clubs...would be exemptfrom paying fees.'Minister, I implore you not to exempt hunts from these fees and to work vigorously towards your party's promise to end blood sports when in government.Thank you.Yours sincerely,[Your name and location]

04. Revoke licence "on public safety grounds": Deputy O'Sullivan

Maureen O'Sullivan, TD has asked Environment Minister, John Gormley, if he will revoke theWard Union's licence "on public safety grounds". Minister Gormley stated in response thatlegislation outlawing the hunt will be published soon.

Question 851 - Answered on 19th January, 2010 - Maureen O'Sullivan, TD: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if, in view of a recent incident involving the collisionof a vehicle and a deer during a ward union hunt, he will revoke the hunt's licence on public safetygrounds.Written Answer. Ref No 48365/09 - Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr John Gormley): I am aware of the recent incident where a deer collided with a vehicle during a huntmeeting. I have had concerns for some time relating to this particular hunting practice for both animalwelfare and public safety reasons. Accordingly, the Government recently approved the drafting of legislation to prohibit the hunting of deer by a pack of hounds in accordance with a commitment inthis regard in the renewed Programme for Government. I expect that the legislation will be publishedas soon as possible.

Please email "Revoke the Ward Union's licence immediately" tominister@environ.ie

Minister John GormleyDepartment of the EnvironmentCustom House, Dublin 1.Tel: 01 888 2403. Fax: 01 878 8640.