According to the Indo this morning Bobby Alwyard and Mattie McGrath nearly came to blows at a party meeting discussing it.
Scale of FF backbench revolt on stag hunting shocks Ministers
STEPHEN COLLINS and MARY MINIHAN
SEVEN FIANNA FĂĄil TDs spoke out in the DĂĄil yesterday evening against their own Governmentâs legislation to ban stag hunting.
While almost all of the rebel TDs are expected to vote for the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2010 in the DĂĄil on Tuesday the scale of the revolt came as a shock to Ministers.
With further Green Party-inspired animal welfare legislation, which has generated opposition in Fianna FĂĄil, due to come before the DĂĄil later next week, the cohesion of the Coalition will be tested before the summer recess.
Green Party leader and Minister for the Environment John Gormley listened as a string of Fianna FĂĄil speakers denounced the ban on stag hunting during an ill-tempered debate following the introduction of the Bill in the DĂĄil yesterday.
Of the eight Fianna FĂĄil TDs who spoke during yesterdayâs second stage debate, only one, Minister of State Martin Mansergh, backed the Bill.
Three of the Fianna FĂĄil TDs for Meath expressed outright opposition to the Bill, which affects the Ward Union Hunt. The hunt is based in Co Meath and in north Co Dublin.
Meath West Fianna FĂĄil TD Johnny Brady warned the Minister, the Taoiseach and members of the Government âthat they cannot depend on my support whether this Government lasts two months or two years . . . if anything else is tinkered with you have not my supportââ.
Thomas Byrne from Meath East questioned the constitutionality of the legislation and suggested President Mary McAleese should refer it to the Council of State. Mary Wallace, also from Meath East, said the ban represented a threat to the rural economy and said she had deep reservations about it.
Dublin North TD Michael Kennedy said there should be an impact assessment undertaken on the issue.
Fine Gael Meath East TD Shane McEntee also pleaded with the Minister to defer the Bill, saying there would be more blood spilled in Croke Park on Sunday when Dublin played Meath than there would be in 10 years of the Ward Hunt.
Mr Gormley said the decision to introduce the legislation was not taken lightly and insisted there were public safety issues involved, as it was simply not possible for the hunt to prevent deer in flight from leaping through hedges on to public roads.
The Minister attacked Labour for its opposition to the Bill. âI am disappointed at the cynical decision by the Labour Party to abandon its opposition to blood sports,â he said.
He said senior members of the party, including its current leader Eamon Gilmore and former leaders Pat Rabbitte and RuairĂ Quinn, had publicly stated their opposition to blood sports, including stag hunting. âIt appears that for Labour Party members no principle is too cherished to be abandoned if they believe there are votes in it for them.â
Michael D Higgins responded it was outrageous to suggest Labour favoured cruelty or blood sports.
Meanwhile, the party whip was removed from Fianna FĂĄil Senator Denis OâDonovan for abstaining in the Seanad vote on the Dog Breeding Establishment Bill last week.
All the cunts will probably still vote with the Government though.
Fuck the greens.
Scumbags. Fcuk the greens.
Politicians and principles ???,
Am i the only coont from the countryside that thinks hunting deer with hounds is wrong?
They have become a party for EXTREME environMENTALalists, they forgot abour the greenest part of Ireland, they have aliennated most rural dwellers, there is no talk of the scumbaggs who neglect horses and other animals. Some of the fuckers I have seen representing the greens could badly do with hard days work and a good feed of Hang sandwiches.
Whats Next is the real issue here, what will they want to do to us, a shitting tax on cows, ban horse racing, ban fishingâŚ
Donât care for thar carry on myself BUT itâs the lesser of two evils
Yerrah the deer enjoy it and they get a good bran mash at the end of the day. Hard to even describe it as a blood sport, the deer gets to go home to his wife and family at the end of the day. We all have to go to work of a Monday like.
All those FF cunts who are voting for this legislation are no better than the Green freaks. If you tolerate this your children will be next⌠All those FF spoofers speaking in the Dail against it and then they turn around and vote for the bill should be told to shove their fine talk up their holes.
Deviant.
Action kicks off at 14:30 today.
Mike Lowry has said he will vote against it as will Jackie Healy Ray, Joe Behan has not declared his intention either way, and if you factor in a couple of them pressing the wrong button by accident things could be very tight for the Government, but the bill is still expected to pass.
Niall Collins turning up at The Irish Cup yet voting for this bill is very disappointing.
Never liked the man myself always came across as a sneaky fucker but then again most politicians do.
First they came for the Stag Hunters, and I did not speak out â
Because I was not a Stag Hunter.
Then they came for the Hare Coursers, and I did not speak out â
Because I was not a Hare Courser.
Then they came for the Fox Hunters, and I did not speak out â
Because I was not a Fox Hunters.
Then they came for the Shooters, and I did not speak out â
Because I was not a Shooter.
Then they came for me â and there was no one left to speak for me.
A long view of Irish history will mark this bill as a victory for enlightenment
Yes, I hope you are very happy with your new stag overlords.
Great stuff SS*
These fascists have really picked on the weakest link, an isolated hunt in one area. These green freaks would do alot more for the environment if they put a bounty on mink in this country and set aside funds to pay for the eradication of this menace from the countryside. With the amount of lads out of work around the country only too happy to make a few extra quid trapping these killers weâd have them under control compared to the current state of the country where they are running riot.