A fox hunting Bill will return to the Dáil for its second reading on the 17th December.
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.
The 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”. Trail hunting and the snaring and trapping of foxes would also be outlawed under this legislation.
Ruth Coppinger TD, who introduced the Bill in May of this year, said that fox hunting is a cruel and inhumane blood sport and it should be outlawed.
Irish animal welfare organisations have welcomed the political action on this issue and are urging political parties to support or allow a free vote for their TDs when the second reading of the Bill is held.
No Defence for Hunting
The Irish Council Against Blood Sports (ICABS) said that during the recent presidential election, fox hunting was a central issue, with Heather Humphreys’ FG defence of the bloodsport proving extremely unpopular.
Her claim that this obscene cruelty is a part of Irish culture was vehemently rejected, with countless comments posted online pointing out that fox hunting is certainly not part of our culture but was actually imported from Britain (where it has been banned for over two decades).
A number of Irish public figures have called for a ban on foxhunting. Cathy Davey, a musician, who is based in Kildare said, “I live in rural Kildare. I support this ban on fox hunting. Anyone who actively supports [fox hunting] is in a minority and they are an embarrassment to Ireland. We need to join the future and stop the torture of wild animals that need to be protected, not hunted.”
Neil Hannon, from the Divine Comedy said, “I’m from rural Ireland. I completely support the petition for a ban on fox hunting in rural Ireland, as do most of the people in rural Ireland.”
Peter Egan, actor (Downton Abbey, After Life 2, Unforgotten, Chariots of Fire, Death at a Funeral), said, “The time is right for this to happen. I urge all Irish political parties to support Ruth Coppinger’s bill [to ban fox hunting]. Be compassionate, be humane, and be kind.”
An online petition calling for a foxhunting ban in Ireland has gathered nearly 25,000 signatures.
Read: Animal Health and Welfare (Ban on Fox Hunting) Bill 2025
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/bills/bill/2025/30/?tab=debates
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If you have a tip for an animal welfare issue, an animal news article, a press release, or just want to just reach out to us, we’d love to hear from you. John Tierney, Animal News Ireland/Editor