Gilmore at odds with FG on staghunting ban

LABOUR leader Eamon Gilmore has set himself on another potential collision course with Fine Gael by saying his party would oppose any efforts to overturn the ban on stag hunting.

The ban — and Fine Gael’s proposal to reverse it — is the latest in a series of differences to emerge between the likely coalition partners.

The Government drove through the ban on stag hunting last year but only after facing down a minor revolt on the Fianna Fáil back-benches.

In normal circumstances Labour, which has traditionally taken a firm line against bloodsports, would have supported the ban.

But because of the fact the Government was struggling with numbers on the vote, Labour voted against the legislation, in what was seen as a deeply cynical political move.

The issue has now arisen again because of a commitment in the Fine Gael manifesto, published this week.

The party pledges to overturn the ban if returned to power.

“Fine Gael will reverse the ban on stag hunting,” the document states.

That will cause a difficulty for Labour should the party be in coalition with Fine Gael.

Mr Gilmore made clear yesterday that his party would not support any effort to overturn the ban. “No, we will not,” he said. “The legislation was passed. We won’t reverse it.”

Mr Gilmore was speaking during a question and answer session with listeners on the Today with Pat Kenny show on RTÉ radio.

He faced questions about the economy, banking, mortgages and the fishing industry during the session.

He was also asked about his faith, with one listener recalling a Hot Press interview which Mr Gilmore gave some time back in which he said he was an atheist.

Asked yesterday if Ireland was ready for an atheist Taoiseach, Mr Gilmore responded: “Well, first of all, I think that religion is essentially a private matter, and I think that one of the things we have to do here is we have to be tolerant.

“This country has changed a lot over recent decades. We’re a country now of many different religious persuasions and people who have no religion.

“And I think what we have to have is, we have to have a country where we respect each other’s right to profess our religion… and respect people who have no religion.

“We need to be a tolerant society where we respect each other’s rights, respect each other’s beliefs and work together as a country — irrespective of what religions we are or no religion; work together on the common values I think that bind us.”

When asked the question again after being accused of not answering it, he said: “I think that Ireland is ready for a Taoiseach that is elected by the people irrespective of what religion that person holds; what private views they hold.”

Elsewhere, Mr Gilmore said Labour would not bring in water taxes, but admitted that a property tax would be introduced in 2014 were his party in power. He pledged that if Labour agreed a programme for government with another party, it would see that agreement through.

“As far as I’m concerned, if we make a programme for government…we will see that programme through.”