Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation
Dail Éireann — 2025-11-26
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Ruth Coppinger (PBP), Dublin West

Ireland is an outlier in allowing cruel fox hunting. It is 20 years since it was banned in the UK, which first introduced this colonial pursuit here. I want to ask the Taoiseach a question but I do not want him to answer it now. Unusually, I would prefer if he gave it consideration. There has not been a Bill to outlaw fox hunting in the State. I will move one on behalf of Solidarity on 17 December. I ask the Taoiseach and other party leaders in the Dáil to consider allowing a free vote on this issue. Some 77% of people want fox hunting banned, including 74% of those in rural areas, in the most recent polls. However, the three large parties support and maintain it with a whip. This does not reflect the democratic wishes of the majority in Ireland. Imposing a whip did not work well in the presidential election. I ask the Taoiseach to consider allowing a free vote on this.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2025-11-26/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:22+00:00
Sitting date: 2025-11-26