TD calls for free vote in Dáil on legislation to ban hare coursing

People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy's legislation to ban hare coursing will be discussed in the Dáil next Thursday, with a vote to take place the following week

From left: National Animal Rights Association spokesperson Laura Broxson; People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy; NSPCA director of advocacy Conor Dowling; and Irish Council Against Blood Sports campaign director Aideen Yourell at a press conference to announce the campaign to ban hare coursing to be discussed in the Dáil. Picture: Sam Boal/Collins

Fine Gael TDs should have a free vote on legislation to ban hare coursing in the Dáil, an opposition TD has said.

People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy noted Simon Harris recently suggested there was a “strong case for more opportunities for TDs to actually be allowed outside of the whip system”.

Mr Murphy’s legislation to ban hare coursing will be discussed in the Dáil next Thursday, with a vote to take place the following week.

He suggested that although hares are a protected species, “over 3,000 are captured every year”, with “over 100” being killed in recent coursing seasons.

Conor Dowling of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) said the practice has been banned in Britain since 2004 and Northern Ireland since 2011, with a recent poll showing 77% of Irish people support it being prohibited.

Speaking earlier this month following a “vote of conscience” in Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael on Sinn Féin legislation to remove the three-day reflection period for abortion services, Mr Harris said he would be in favour of more free votes.

Mr Murphy and Mr Dowling called on him to allow a free vote on the hare-coursing bill.

“Simon Harris says you need to have more free votes, and it's a good thing,” Mr Murphy said.

“Well then, isn't this a perfect opportunity to show a commitment to that by allowing TDs to vote with their conscience as to whether they want this cruel practice to continue?

I've no doubt there's plenty of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and, certainly, Sinn Féin TDs who are utterly opposed to hare coursing and would like to vote in favour of the bill to stop it.

A spokesperson for the Tánaiste said a free vote would not be permitted.

At its recent ard fheis in Belfast, Sinn Féin delegates passed a contentious motion to support a ban on fox hunting.

Mr Murphy encouraged the party to back the hare-coursing bill too.

A Sinn Féin spokesperson told the Irish Examiner the party believes “outright bans would drive these practices underground, so we favour regulation”.

“We also support the promotion of alternatives such as lure coursing racing, and have called for [the] establishment of a commission of experts and stakeholders from animal welfare and rural pursuits organisations to examine and recommend appropriate regulations,” they added.