Walsh ‘pro-blood sports’ and ‘no friend to animals’

THE Association of Hunt Saboteurs has attacked Joe Walsh’s record as Minster for Agriculture over his failure to advance the cause of animal rights during a lengthy career in politics.

The group’s founder, Bernadette Wright, said Mr Walsh, who recently announced his retirement from the Government, was “no friend of animals”.

“The problem is animals don’t have any votes. The power lies with people who are making money out of animals,” said Ms Wright.

She claimed Mr Walsh, who has held the agricultural portfolio since 1997, was “pro-blood sports” and in favour of most issues which animal rights and welfare groups opposed.

Although Mr Walsh’s department does not have direct responsibility for the greyhound industry, Ms Wright criticised the Government for its reluctance to tackle the problem of ageing greyhounds

“Over 30,000 ... are being killed every year because they are no longer capable of racing,” she noted.

The Association of Hunt Saboteurs also criticised Mr Walsh for failing to enforce and police legislation relating to animal welfare including such issues as horse licensing and the transport of animals.

Ms Wright called on Mr Walsh’s replacement, who has yet to be announced, to introduce a similar ban on fox hunting as is currently being proposed by the British government.

She also urged the Government parties to support a Green Party bill due to come before the Dáil in the autumn to ban fur farming in Ireland.

Ms Wright said she hoped that Mr Walsh’s successor would take a stronger line in advocating animal rights, although she was “not optimistic.”

Reacting to her comments, a spokesperson for Mr Walsh said the Minister had a record of bringing forward initiatives related to animal welfare.

He pointed out that Mr Walsh had established a Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Council which had proposed recommendations to improve the general conditions of livestock.

The spokesperson said Mr Walsh had also attempted to reach an agreement between all EU member states during the recent Irish EU presidency on the welfare of animals in transit.

“The Government was disappointed that an initiative to improve the condition of animals being transported was unsuccessful,” he added.