TDs plan to block any bloodsports ban
Sunday September 20 2009
Fianna Fail and the Green Party are set on a collision course over the belief held by significant elements of the senior government party that their Green colleagues are "plotting'' to use the new Programme for Government negotiations to abolish blood-sports such as hare coursing.
Fianna Fail and the Greens are negotiating a compromise over Nama -- the largest, most controversial fiscal outlay in the history of the State.
However, the Sunday Independent has learned that a large group of FF back-benchers now believe that one of the key prices Greens' leader John Gormley will attempt to extract from Taoiseach Brian Cowen for his party's continued support is the eventual abolition of hare coursing.
Last week, the Environment Minister signed an order allowing coursing clubs to net hares for the forthcoming season. However, Mr Gormley made it clear that he had made the decision with a heavy heart.
Speaking to the Sunday Independent, Fianna Fail back-bench TD Ned O'Keeffe warned the Greens that any attempt to abolish "rural pursuits'' such as hare coursing "by stealth'' will be "vigorously resisted''.
- John Drennan
