The views of 2019 Local Election Candidates (Dublin City) in relation to animal cruelty issues. Please support compassionate candidates and reject those who defend animal cruelty.
Cllr Chris Andrews (Sinn Fein, Dublin City Council, South East Inner City)
In 2010, Chris Andrews TD voted in favour of the ban on carted deer hunting.
Cllr Cathleen Carney Boud (Sinn Fein, Dublin City Council, Ballymun-Finglas)
“Yes I am in favour of a ban on blood sports” from a text message to ICABS, June 2015.
Cllr Janice Boylan (Sinn Fein, Dublin City Council, North Inner City)
“I vote against [hare coursing] at every Ard dheis I’ve been a delegate at. I am strongly opposed to it.” from a tweet to ICABS, Novemer 2015.
Gillian Brien (People Before Profit, Dublin City, North Inner City)
“I believe foxhunting, hare coursing, fur farming and bullfighting should be banned…I hate to see animals being treated cruelly or neglected. Unfortunately this happens so frequently in our society. This is largely because they are viewed as a commodity by the private, profit-driven sector. I condemn all forms of cruelty and neglect. I advocate decent conditions for animals – where offspring are not separated from their mothers too soon, and where animals are kept in clean environments that are not cramped. I am opposed to the use of growth hormones and unnecessary usage of antibiotics or steroids. The use of painful methods of killing – such as grinding up live chicks – is abhorrent and should be banned outright.” from an email to ICABS, 8th April 2019. Read People Before Profit’s animal welfare policy at http://www.pbp.ie/policies/animal-welfare-policy/
Cllr Christy Burke (Independent, Dublin City Council, North Inner City)
“I am against any form of animal cruelty.” from an email to ICABS, April 2014.
Donna Cooney (Green Party, Dublin City, Clontarf)
“I am committed (as are my party) to animal welfare. I am a vegetarian all my life. I help animals in need, whenever I can. I would be totally against blood sports or any activity that hurts animals. Although there is no hunting in Dublin city, I will as a representative if elected, always consider the welfare of animals in any council policy decision and lobby against hunting, fur, animal testing.” March 2014.
Cllr Ciaran Cuffe (Green Party, Dublin City Council, North Inner City)
“I am against all forms of blood sports.”
Jen Cummins (Social Democrats, Dublin South West Inner City)
“Wishing you well with the vital work you are doing” (email to ICABS, May 2019)
Tara Deacy (Social Democrats, Kimmage-Rathmines)
“It’s appalling that in 2019 we still need to be having these types of conversations that fox hunting, hare coursing, etc is still seen as a ‘sport’. I fully support a ban on fox hunting, hare coursing, fur farming and would support others with the same view.” from an email to ICABS, 20 May 2019.
Cllr Daithí Doolan (Sinn Fein, Dublin City Council, Ballyfermot-Drimnagh)
“Blood ‘sports’ are unacceptable & indefensible. I have been against blood ‘sports’ since I was a child. They always struck me as being terribly terribly cruel! I wish you well in campaigning to get them banned. Adh mór.” from a message left on ICABS blog, June 2015.
Cllr Mary Freehill (Labour Party, Dublin City Council, Kimmage-Rathmines)
“I’m very much in favour of a ban on foxhunting and hare coursing. Hare coursing in particular is extremely cruel.” from a tweet to ICABS, May 2014.
Cllr Gary Gannon (Social Democrats, Dublin City Council, Cabra-Glasnevin)
“I am fully against blood sports in all their forms and would be fully supportive of any Dublin City Council motion which called for a ban on such unnecessary cruelty. ”
Cllr Alison Gilliland (Labour Party, Dublin City Council, Artane-Whitehall)
“Yes [add me to list of Labour Party politicians in favour of a ban on bloodsports]. No animal should be hunted down or deliberately set upon in the name of sport or pleasure.” from a tweet to ICABS, June 2015.
Cllr Jane Horgan-Jones (Labour Party, Dublin City Council, Clontarf)
“Yes [I am in favour of a ban on foxhunting and hare coursing].” from a tweet to ICABS, May 2014.
Neasa Hourigan (Green Party, Cabra-Glasnevin)
“I am Chair of Policy for the Green Party so I am quite involved in developing and updating our animal welfare work. As you can imagine it’s an area of huge interest and long standing commitment for the party and indeed in the last few months we’ve been working hard on the issue of live exports.
I am (and of course party policy is) opposed to all blood sports, and we will seek to bring in legislation to end hare coursing, fox hunting, hare hunting and mink hunting. We will also work to ensure that sufficient resources are made available to enforce existing laws against stag hunting, dog fighting, cock fighting and animal baiting.
The Green Party has also promised to:
– “ban fur farming of all species”
– “end badger-culling by snares and shooting and support alternative measures such as oral TB vaccination” .
– Introduce regulations where necessary “to strengthen existing legislation, to increase penalties, and to make fines subject to attachment orders”.
– Prohibit the importation of any animals captured in the wild to be sold or kept as pets
– Prohibit tail and ear docking of dogs
– Ban all non-medical animal experiments, including the use of toxicology experiments on animals for cosmetic botulinum toxin products.
– Prohibit the use of painful procedures without anaesthesia; experiments which subject animals to “severe and prolonged pain” will no longer be permitted.
– Ban animal acts in circuses and support the re-homing of circus animals. Only circuses which do not use animal acts will be eligible for public funding.”
Cllr Vincent Jackson (Independent, Dublin City Council, Ballyfermot-Drimnagh)
“I am, and have always been, against bloodsports.” from a text message to ICABS, May 2014.
Cllr Andrew Keegan (People Before Profit, Dublin City Council, Ballymun-Finglas)
“I don’t support blood sports, senseless hunting, the fur trade or any cruel acts to any animal no matter how important it may be locally perceived.” from a text message to ICABS, November 2014.
Micheál Kelliher (Independents 4 Change, Dublin City, Cabra-Glasnevin)
“I support a ban on foxhunting, hare coursing, fur farming and any form of sports that involve harming animals.” (email to ICABS, 23 May 2019)
Cllr Dermot Lacey (Labour Party, Dublin City Council, Pembroke)
“As a dog owner and animal lover generally I would be, and have been, supportive of typical animal rights issues over the years.” from an email to ICABS, April 2014.
Samantha Long (Independent, Kimmage-Rathmines)
“I am not personally in favour of any bloodsports. When this intense campaign period is over I will read more on your campaign.” from a tweet to ICABS, May 2014.
Cllr John Lyons (Independent, Dublin City Council, Artane-Whitehall)
“I am most certainly in favour of a ban on these horrific activities [hare coursing and fox hunting].” from a text message to ICABS, November 2014.
Cllr Tina MacVeigh (People Before Profit, Dublin City Council, South West Inner City)
“I most definitely am [in favour of a ban on hare coursing and fox hunting].” from a text message to ICABS, November 2014.
Cllr Ruairi McGinley (Independent, Kimmage-Rathmines)
“I am against hare coursing but do not have a problem with foxhunting” from a tweet to ICABS, October 2014. ICABS has urged Cllr McGinley to reconsider his stance on foxhunting and sent him information about the terrible cruelty involved.
Declan Meenagh (Labour Party, Dublin City Council, Cabra-Glasnevin)
“For the record, I am opposed to fox hunting.” from a tweet to ICABS, May 2014.
Cllr Rebecca Moynihan (Labour Party, Dublin City Council, South West Inner City)
“Yes [add me to list of Labour Party politicians in favour of a ban on bloodsports]. I’m an animal lover.” from a tweet to ICABS, June 2015.
Cllr Michael Mullooly (Fianna Fail, Dublin City Council, Kimmage-Rathmines)
“I favour a ban on foxhunting and hare coursing.” from an email to ICABS, August 2016.
Cllr Criona Ni Dhalaigh (Sinn Fein, Dublin City Council, South West Inner City)
“I am against any form of animal cruelty and abhor foxhunting and hare coursing.” from a text message to ICABS, May 2014.
Cllr Damian O’Farrell (Independent, Dublin City Council, Clontarf)
“I am absolutely against the killing of animals for sport. Furthermore I don’t agree with animals being held in circuses and have spoken out regarding this matter to Dublin City Council.” from an email to ICABS, April 2014.
Cllr Ciaran O’Moore (Sinn Fein, Dublin City Council, Clontarf)
“Yes I would like a ban on all blood sports” from a text message to ICABS, November 2014.
Cllr Cieran Perry (Independent, Dublin City Council, Cabra-Glasnevin)
“I believe that the netting and coursing of wild hares is a cruel and barbaric practice that has no place in the Ireland of today. Despite the introduction of muzzling, which coursing enthusiasts reassured the public would remove the “kill” element of this so-called sport, it is clear that the coursing fraternity cannot be trusted to police their own events. It is surely now time to consign this cruel and shameful practice to the dustbin of history once and for all”. From a statement issued on 03 February, 2011.
In October 2010, Cieran Perry succeeded in getting a motion passed in Dublin City Council to ban the import and sale of real fur, in the jurisdiction of Dublin City.
Cllr Noeleen Reilly (Independent, Dublin City Council, Ballymun-Finglas)
“I support a ban on this outdated and cruel tradition [bloodsports] in Ireland. There is no enjoyment for the animal in this sport.” from a tweet to ICABS, October 2015.
On 25th July 2016, Cllr Reilly presented a successful motion which banned the use of wild animals in circuses in Dublin. Speaking after the council meeting, Cllr Reilly said: “I am delighted my motion was passed. This is a cruel outdated practice that holds no place in modern Ireland. Training and torturing animals to perform tricks for our entertainment in an unnatural environment is inhuman and degrading. Not only that but animals are chained or caged for up to 24 hours a day and are only let out to perform. I want to commend all the local Authorities who have passed similar motions to date and now call on the Minister to listen to what the councils are telling him and to ban this practice from the state immediately.”
Cllr Eilis Ryan (The Workers’ Party, Dublin City Council, North Inner City)
“Fully opposed to hare coursing.” from a tweet to ICABS, November 2015.
Cllr Sonya Stapleton (Independents 4 Change, Dublin City Council, South East Inner City)
“I’m very much in favour of a ban on foxhunting and hare coursing. This cruelty has to be stopped and I would fully support such a proposal.” from a text message to ICABS, November 2014.
Catherine Stocker (Social Democrats, Clontarf)
“I would support a ban on all blood sports and killing of animals for decorative or recreational purposes – including hare coursing, fur farming and fox hunting. I also support a complete ban on the use of wild animals in circuses. I also favour improved animal welfare standards and harsher penalties for animal cruelty.” from an email to ICABS, 20 May 2019.
Other Green Party candidates
Cllr. Patrick Costello (Green Party)
Cllr. Claire Byrne (Green Party)
Sophie Nicoullaud (Green Party)
Caroline Conroy (Green Party)
Michael Pidgeon (Green Party)
Hazel Chu (Green Party)
The Green Party is in favour of a ban on bloodsports, including fox hunting, hare coursing, hare hunting and mink hunting. It also supports a ban on fur farming and an end to the Department of Agriculture’s cruel snaring and killing of badgers. See the party’s full animal welfare policy document at https://www.greenparty.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Green-Party-Animal-Welfare-Policy_June-20151.pdf
Other People Before Profit candidates
Cllr. Hazel de Nortuín
Jo Tully
Bernard Mulvany
Peter Dooley
Annette Mooney
Siomha Ní Aonghusa
People Before Profit’s Animal Welfare policies include: Introduce a complete ban on the hunting of wild mammals with hounds, Introduce a complete ban on coursing live hares, Ban fur farming and End badger culling by traps, snares and shooting – http://www.pbp.ie/policies/animal-welfare-policy/
Other Social Democrats candidates
Mary Callaghan (Social Democrats)
Patricia Roe (Social Democrats)
Paddy Monahan (Social Democrats)
Ellie Kisyombee (Social Democrats)
Carol Deans (Social Democrats)
Sarah Durcan (Social Democrats)
The Social Democrats are in favour of a ban on fox hunting, hare coursing and fur farming. The party’s animal welfare policy states: “The Social Democrats strongly advocate animal rights and recognise animals as intelligent, sentient beings capable of complex thought and of experiencing pain and suffering…We are in favour of harsher penalties for animal cruelty” See the full policy at https://www.socialdemocrats.ie/our-policies/
Other Independents 4 Change candidates
Bernie Hughes (Independents 4 Change)
Cllr. Pat Dunne (Independents 4 Change)
Nicky Uzell (Independents 4 Change)
See the full list of Dublin City candidates at
https://www.rte.ie/news/elections-2019/2019/0505/1047631-dublin-city-council/
Find out the views of candidates in other constituencies
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2019/04/24/2019-election-and-animal-cruelty-issues
Find out the views of European election candidates
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2019/03/26/european-election-candidates-and-animal-cruelty-issues/
If you are a candidate and wish to provide a statement outlining your views on animal cruelty issues, please email it to us at info@banbloodsports.com
Ban Bloodsports 
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