FOXHUNTING is facing an unprecedented threat to its future as support for an alternative government of Fine Gael, Labour and the Green Party gathers steam.

On May 24, the public will vote in the very first election where a major political player has stated that it would introduce legislation to end blood sports in Ireland.

The Green Party has said it would campaign for heavy penalties for organisers of, and participants in, illegal blood sports if it were elected to government.

"The party will campaign through the European Parliament for legislation which will make it an offence to organise or participate in any illegal blood sport in Europe," a spokesperson for the party said, adding that the Green Party encourages the alternatives of drag hunting and drag coursing.

Although such statements will be perceived by many as a direct threat to foxhunting, the question of how high up on the party's agenda foxhunting is remains.

"That is very much dependent on how many Green seats there are in the next government and the attitude of our prospective coalition partners," says TD Paul Gogarty, arts and sports spokesperson for the Green Party.

"The main issues for the general public are usually health, crime, childcare, gridlock and so on, which will naturally be higher up on the list," says Paul.

"In that way, we can't make a ban on foxhunting non-negotiable but it is something that we will be pressing strongly for. But on the ground, even in rural Ireland, we believe that the majority of people are against foxhunting."

Rebutting the argument that hunting is a necessary procedure to cull predatory foxes, Paul says that he is very specific on the definition of hunting. "Foxhunting is a sport and leisure activity that is derived from and inherently involves animal cruelty."

He stresses that a ban on foxhunting could not be foisted on the country in the same way as the smoking ban. "We want to make sure that any ban would be supported by and come from rural communities. We believe there is widespread support in rural areas for a ban but we would need to have some formal surveys to confirm that," he says.

He is also keen to dispute any suggestion that a foxhunting ban would revive the age-old town versus country debate.

"We are anxious that it would not be seen as the city imposing its views on the rural public. We know that there are country people, including farmers, who do not want foxhunts crossing their land, and causing disturbance," says the TD.

The latest report by the Irish Horse Board found that hunting is the single biggest equestrian activity in the country, with more than 2,500 meets per year and more than 150,000 caps.

Given that over 300,000 people are said to participate in hunting on a regular basis, should they be concerned about the Green's stance?

Hunting people are entitled to be very concerned, says Dickie Power, secretary of the Hunting Association of Ireland.

"The Greens are not hiding their light under a bushel," he says. "People who are voting for the Greens would not be concerned about their proposals but it will affect Fine Gael's votes.

"Fine Gael candidates are already beginning to feel the heat on doorsteps at the moment," says Dickie.

"Sporting people are entitled to ask them what will happen if they form a coalition with the Green Party. Are the Greens going to get their way on hunting?" he says.

"The penny might not have dropped yet, even among those who hunt, but we are grilling our Fine Gael candidates and getting, as far as possible, a commitment from them to support hunting," he adds.

The Green Party aside, it appears that while the other political parties have no immediate proposal or intention to bring in a ban, they are not ruling it out.

Fine Gael says there are no proposals to ban hunting or coursing under consideration by the party.

"Fine Gael is supportive of the development of alternatives to conventional hunting such as drag hunting, which are growing in popularity in many parts of the country," said a spokesperson for the party.

"In addition to the removal of the fox from this form of hunting, the course of drag hunts can be planned in advance thereby minimising disruption to farmers and landowners," he added.

The Labour Party says it would be happy to consider any proposals to change the regulations governing country sports, although there has been no significant lobby either way.

"The Labour Party recognises the role of country sports in rural life. We have always been anxious to strike a balance between the maintenance of these traditions and practices with the need to avoid unnecessary cruelty to animals," says the party's spokesperson.

In 1993 Labour's then Minister for State at the Department of Agriculture, Brian O'Shea TD, introduced legislation enabling the minister to order the muzzling of greyhounds involved in coursing.

"In regard to foxhunting, we have consistently maintained that we do not believe that the fox should be killed," said the spokesperson.

"Since then, there has been no significant lobby either way for change in regard to the regulations governing country sports. If there is a case to be made for change, the Labour Party would be happy to consider any such proposals given the length of time since the legislation was passed," he added.

The Progressive Democrats said there was no proposal in the party's manifesto to change the current position on country sports.

Asked if they would support legislation to ban fox and hare hunting if it were proposed by another party in government, the PD spokesperson said the party would be contesting the election as an independent party. Sinn Fein says it has no formal position on country sports, including foxhunting and hare hunting, and would not comment on whether it would consider changing legislation relating to those sports.

Neither did the party comment on whether it would introduce legislation to curb or ban foxhunting or hare hunting or support such legislation if it were proposed by another party in government.

The party's spokesperson said country sports were the subject of ongoing debate within the party.

The only legislation currently pertaining to hunting comes under the remit of Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Dick Roche.

Section 26(1) of the Wildlife Act 1976, as amended, provides that the minister may grant to the master or other person in charge of a pack of stag hounds, a licence authorising the hunting of deer.

The Ward Union Hunt is covered by this licence, which it must reapply for regularly. The hunt must comply with certain conditions, as well as undergo a veterinary inspection before the licence is granted.

Beyond this, the Fianna Fail party did not comment on its position on foxhunting.

Aideen Yourell, spokesperson for the Irish Council Against Bloodsports (ICAB), says she is very hopeful of a ban on foxhunting and hare coursing being introduced in Ireland but that would depend on the parties that make it into the next government.

"There is a very good chance that the Greens will be pivotal in the next government and it is on their manifesto that they will outlaw bloodsports," says Aideen.

"We are pinning our hopes on the Green Party, and of course our own vice-president, the independent TD Tony Gregory," she says.

The ICAB advocates drag hunting over hunting live animals. "Drag hunts are carried out over a pre-ordained route which makes it safe for the hunters, as well as removing the cruelty element of hunting," says Aideen.

"From the hunter's point of view, there is no standing around and it is a very humane and viable alternative."

With the election in the offing, Dickie Power is adamant that the chances of a foxhunting ban being introduced here are limited. "It's been a total fiasco in England, between loopholes and the fact that the police have chosen not to get involved," says Dickie.

"I would expect that 70-80pc of the population would, given the option of banning hunting or not, continue with the status quo," he adds.

The results of the election in a fortnight could have devastating consequences for the future of hunting in Ireland, as well as major repercussions for the horse industry as a whole.