Ruth Coppinger TD has introduced a Bill to the Dáil that would ban fox hunting.
The Animal Health and Welfare (Ban on Fox Hunting) Bill 2025 aims to amend the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, which contains an exemption for hunting.
Deputy Coppinger’s bill, if enacted, would add a paragraph to Section 12 to “specify that fox hunting and related practices are banned and therefore cannot be considered as lawful hunting”.
The bill would also ban trail hunting and the snaring and trapping of foxes.
Introducing the Bill, Deputy Coppinger said that she believed it was the first time a bill banning fox hunting was introduced in the Dáil. She said that fox hunting had already been banned in England, Scotland and Wales for over two decades and remained in Ireland as “a relic” of British rule.
Deputy Coppinger described fox hunting as cruel and unnecessary and said, “I believe that fox hunting is a cruel and inhumane so-called blood sport. It clearly causes unnecessary suffering, packs of dogs chasing after a fox relentlessly is obviously a very stressful and unnatural situation. Foxes are our last wild dog in Ireland and they should be protected.”
She cited a 2019 RED C opinion poll, commissioned by the Irish Council Against Blood Sports,(ICABS), that indicated 77% believe fox hunting should be banned, and said that 74% of people polled who lived in rural areas believed it should be banned.
Bill Opposed
Independent Ireland leader Michael Collins TD and Danny Healy-Rae TD indicated their opposition to the Bill and said they would oppose its introduction at its First Stage.
Private Members Bills have a precedent that they are not opposed when first introduced.
Despite calls for a vote by the two pro-foxhunting politicians, the Government Chief whip, Mary Butler TD, said the government was not opposing the bill at first stage but would consider it at second stage.
“As is normally the case with Private Members’ Business, the bill will not be opposed at first stage, that is the process.If and when the bill is listed for second stage, like all other Private Members Business, the government will then consider the matter at that point.”
A Dáil vote on to allow this Bill to be introduced or not will take place on Wednesday evening.
In opposing the Bill, Deputy Collins said the fox was a pest that did damage to native bird species and was not liked by farmers. He claimed that protection for mice and rats would be introduced next.
Deputy Healy-Rae TD, a Kerry based TD, said that foxes were everywhere and need controlling.
A number of anti-hunting organisations protested outside the Dáil in support of the Bill. Supporters carried placards showing graphic images of fox hunting anti-and displaying anti-foxhunting messages.
Updated: 29th May 20025
Ruth Coppinger’s Bill aiming to ban fox hunting in Ireland will proceed to second stage after a vote in the Dáil on Wednesday evening (28 May 2025). 113 TDs (including government party TDs) voted in favour of allowing the Bill to introduced while 49 opposed.
This vote was taken after pro-bloodsport TDs Michael Collins (Independent Ireland) and Danny Healy Rae (Independent) attempted to block the introduction of the Bill.
A Government spokesperson said that calling for a vote at the Bill introduction stage was in effect a vote on the right of a TD to table legislation.
Sinn Féin and Aontú TDs voted against the introduction of the Bill and it is understood that government TDs plan to oppose the Bill at its 2nd stage.
Speaking after the vote, Deputy Coppinger said, “”Sinn Fein just voted with Independent Ireland to block my bill going to second stage for debate. Incredible. Thankfully, the rest of the Dáil agreed to let it go through for debate by 113 votes to 49. Shocking by Sinn Fein. They really are terrible on animal rights.”
Read: Transcript:
Animal Health and Welfare (Ban on Fox Hunting) Bill 2025: First Stage
https://www.oireachtas.ie/…/debate/dail/2025-05-27/8/
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