Find out where Fine Gael European election candidates stand on animal cruelty issues. The election takes place on Friday 24 May 2019. Please choose compassionate candidates and reject those who support animal cruelty. Keep an eye on our page in the coming weeks for the views of candidates from other parties.
– DUBLIN CONSTITUENCY –
Frances Fitzgerald TD
In June 2016, Frances Fitzgerald was among the 114 TDs who voted against Deputy Maureen O’Sullivan’s bill which sought to ban cruel hare coursing.
In 2016, 2017 and 2018, voted in favour of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations which granted €80 million/€80 million/€84 million of taxpayers’ money to horse and greyhound racing.
In March 2013, Frances Fitzgerald voted against amendments to the Animal Health and Welfare Bill which sought to secure a ban on some of Ireland’s worst acts of cruelty to animals – foxhunting, hare coursing, digging out, terrierwork, ferreting, badger culling, fur farming and the use of animals in circuses.
In December 2014, Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald defended the presence of two Gardai at a hare coursing meeting in Glin. Replying to a Dail Question from Clare Daly, TD, Minister Fitzgerald stated: “The event attracted a significant number of patrons on Saturday 4 October and a larger number of patrons on Sunday 5 October. As with other events that attract a considerable crowd of people, local Garda management deemed it necessary to have Gardaí present. The duties performed by Gardaí were normal traffic duties, as performed at all local public events that attract large numbers of people and the Coursing Club will not be covering the cost of the Garda presence.”
Mark Durkan
former MP for Foyle and leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) from 2001 to 2010
In a May 2010 letter to a constituent, then SDLP leader Margaret Ritchie MP wrote: “The SDLP is completely opposed to animal cruelty. As far back as 1995, the party passed a motion at our annual conference calling for a complete ban on foxhunting and when he was leader, Mark Durkan MP signed an Early Day Motion in Westminster supporting the British government’s record on animal welfare and the British bans on fox, hare and staghunting, as well as hare coursing.”
– IRELAND SOUTH CONSTITUENCY –
Deirdre Clune MEP
In October 2014, Deirdre Clune refused to support a European Parliament Budget Amendment which sought to end massive subsidies to barbaric bullfighting. Along with her three Fine Gael colleagues, Deirdre Clune abstained in the vote. The amendment was rejected because it didn’t secure a qualified majority.
As a TD in 2010, Deirdre Clune voted AGAINST the Bill which banned staghunting.
Sean Kelly MEP
In October 2014, Sean Kelly refused to support a European Parliament Budget Amendment which sought to end massive subsidies to barbaric bullfighting. Along with his three Fine Gael colleagues, Sean Kelly abstained in the vote. The amendment was rejected because it didn’t secure a qualified majority.
Andrew Doyle TD
Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture
In June 2016, Andrew Doyle was among the 114 TDs who voted against Deputy Maureen O’Sullivan’s bill which sought to ban cruel hare coursing.
In December 2016, voted in favour of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations which granted €80 million of taxpayers’ money to the horse and greyhound racing industries. In December 2017, he again voted in favour of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations which granted another €80 million to horse and greyhound racing.
In a 2017 Dail Eireann speech, Andrew Doyle TD farcically thanked the Irish Greyhound Board for “their valuable contribution to animal welfare” and made the outrageous claim that the government “does not tolerate any instance of animal cruelty”. He was referring to a government that refuses to outlaw cruel hare coursing, foxhunting, digging-out/terrierwork, fur farming, puppy farming, etc. His reference to Bord na gCon and animal welfare is similarly laughable given that the greyhound industry is inherently cruel, with an estimated 10,000 greyhounds destroyed every year when found to be too slow to win races. Greyhounds also suffer injuries and are killed at tracks while others are shamefully exported to countries such as Pakistan and China which have little or no animal welfare laws. In his speech, Deputy Doyle attempted to present foxhunting and hare coursing as activities which “avoid wilful or unnecessary cruelty” – again, contrary to the facts which are that both of these bloodsports are intrinsically cruel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVqq4cpUY3I
“The greyhound industry is an important driver of economic activity and employment in both rural and urban Ireland. Developing the sector to its potential is a key priority for me. I am confident that the Board of Bord na gCon shares that objective. The meeting was a very constructive engagement and provided a useful opportunity to outline key priorities, including putting the sector on a sound financial footing, and building a reputation for good governance, strong regulation and high standards of animal welfare. The Indecon Report already provides a good road map. My Department will be closely monitoring progress on its implementation, and is at present preparing the heads of a Bill to implement aspects of the report, including those in relation to governance and regulation. I look forward to working closely with the Board to develop this very important sector to its maximum potential.” Andrew Doyle, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, May 2016.
– MIDLANDS-NORTH-WEST CONSTITUENCY –
Mairéad McGuinness MEP
In October 2014, Mairead McGuinness refused to support a European Parliament Budget Amendment which sought to end massive subsidies to barbaric bullfighting. Along with her three Fine Gael colleagues, Mairead McGuinness abstained in the vote. The amendment was rejected because it didn’t secure a qualified majority.
“On tonight’s The Frontline we’ll debate animal rights and rural Ireland. We’ll be joined by Mairead McGuinness MEP (who opposes John Gormley’s measures) [to ban carted deer hunting]…” From a Frontline programme statement, 22 Mar 2010.
Maria Walsh
Maria Walsh, a former Rose of Tralee winner, described a trip to the Kingdom greyhound stadium in Tralee as “really fun” and encouraged people to come to the track and bet on races.
In a 2016 video posted on the Irish Greyhound Board website, Maria Walsh interviews an IGB representative “about what makes Tralee & the Kingdom Greyhound Stadium the perfect spot for visiting tourists” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6w1EkG6ArQM
Recalling a visit she made to the stadium, Maria Walsh said: “It was fun and it was great to see all different ages here.”
At the end of the video she added: “From all of us at the Kingdom greyhound stadium, we’ll see you here very soon. And bring a couple of euros – I bet you’re going to become a little bit of a better.”
In 2015, Tralee Today reported that Maria Walsh attended a Kerry GAA fundraiser at Kingdom greyhound stadium and presented a prize to the winner of a “best dressed lady competition”. According to the Kerryman newspaper “reigning Rose [of Tralee] Maria Walsh will be special guest on the night”.
Ban Bloodsports 
Leave a Reply