Fox hunting: Predator control or outdated blood sport?

Ruth Coppinger said in the Dáil that fox hunting has been banned for over two decades in Britain, and she failed to understand why anyone would defend it here

'Fox hunting is a necessary part of the control of foxes, which can cause damage and a loss of earnings to farmers,' senator Seán Kyne said

Fox hunting was robustly defended in the Seanad recently as an effort to control a predator that affects the livelihood of farmers.

However, the practice was previously criticised in the Dáil as a cruel and inhumane blood sport that causes unnecessary suffering.