Cullen decision on shooting ban ‘to cost Government 118,000 votes’

ENVIRONMENT Minister Martin Cullen’s failure to lift a shooting ban on State lands will cost the Government almost 118,000 votes in the EU and local elections, a sports’ body has warned.

National Association of Regional Game Councils (NARGC) director Des Crofton reiterated a call for members not to vote for Government party election candidates when he addressed a weekend protest meeting in Blarney, Co Cork.

The meeting was called to highlight what NARGC described as the minister’s refusal to recognise and implement the findings of a 2002 independent scientific review into the Government’s current policy.