Press release

Stag Hunting Furore Says a Lot About Fianna Fáil

The furore over tonight’s vote to ban stag hunting says a lot about the priorities of government backbenchers, according to Cork Sinn Féin Councillor Jonathan O’Brien.

“This government has shovelled billions at the banks, while targeting cutbacks at the most vulnerable in society. Social welfare payments have been cut, services for children with special needs reduced, and health and education budgets slashed. Now ministers are hinting that the old age pension may be next for the chop.”

“Fianna Fail backbenchers and independents Jackie Healy Rae and Michael Lowry trailed obediently through the lobbies to vote for government policies which have rewarded the very people who wrecked the economy while penalising ordinary workers. Where was the backbench revolt when the government was pumping more than €20 billion into Anglo-Irish bank? Government TDs have shown little concern over the cutbacks to social welfare payments or the government’s failure to do anything for the 440,000 unemployed. But proposals to ban stag-hunting and regulate dog-breeding have them scurrying to the nearest microphone to shout defiance.”

“Last week seven Fianna Fail TDs went on the record to oppose the legislation. Now Independents Michael Lowry and Jackie Healy-Rae have stated they will vote against it.”

“That dogs and deer, rather than this government’s appalling economic policies, should trigger a back-bench rebellion says a lot about the priorities of government TDs. The economic pain of ordinary people is less important to them than the right of the Ward Union Hunt to chase stags over the plains of Meath. Once more government politicians have shown themselves totally detached from the concerns of ordinary people.”

For further information contact Cllr Jonathan O’Brien @ 085/2133907