Lobbying Politicians
Why do we need to lobby politicians?
Fox hunting with hounds is still currently legal (Animal Health and Welfare Act), which means to get it banned a vital tactic we need to use is lobbying politicians. This means that anyone who wants to see an end to bloodsports needs to email and call their local politicians and ask them to support a ban on fox hunting and all bloodsports, and apply additional pressure to them if they are opposed to the ban. It’s easy to think someone else will email or call, but the reality is we (you) need to take that leap and engage politicians or no one else will. It’s only in huge numbers of emails and calls—with a diversity of other tactics—that politicians will take us seriously and enact the necessary legislative change.
A RED C poll conducted in September 2019 found 79% of people in urban areas and 74% in rural areas believe the Irish Government should ban fox hunting and hare coursing. 66% of Ireland want to defund greyhound racing completely—the millions in funding is what keeps it afloat. However, if these majority groups don’t act in the ways that they can, then they won’t have their voices heard. This is why pressure campaigns work best with a diversity of tactics; we do direct action in the field, others protest, rally, email and call politicians, boycott hunt pubs and venues, go leafleting, postering, donate to us, fundraise, sign petitions, etc. One tactic alone and we won’t succeed, but when we work together across many avenues, it’s only a matter of time before nonhuman animals have their justice.
How
We have written you a template letter below which you can send to your local politicians. Click here or here to find your local politicians and use our template below to email all of them, you can edit in your own words and add your personal thoughts as well. As a citizen you can also ring your politicians requesting their support over the phone, this adds extra pressure.
Dear Deputy,
I am writing to you in relation to the cruel practice of fox hunting. As I'm sure you are aware, there are around 130 registered fox/hare hunts and many more unregistered hunts in the Republic of Ireland.
Hunting season is from November—April, and coursing season is from September—February. During hunting season, thousands of foxes and hares are dug out of their dens, chased for hours, and savaged to death several times a week, all over the country, for "fun". Hunters regularly trespass on land without permission, kill animal companions like cats and dogs, break and knock down farmers’ fencing, and terrify local animals such as sheep.
The foxes and hares, frightened, are chased by hounds through scent—running for their lives from a violent and gruesome death. Even though the hounds are slower than foxes, hounds have a higher stamina, torturing foxes who must run for sometimes hours until a slow and painful death, all in the name of “sport”. This is completely and utterly unjust.
Fox hunting is already banned in the UK where it was originated by the British aristocracy. It’s time for this unnecessary violence and cruelty which was brought to Ireland, to end here too.
A recent 2019 RED C poll found that 77% of the people in Ireland want a ban on fox hunting and hare coursing. Therefore, I am asking you again, as a TD, to act on the wishes of the majority of people in Ireland and support an immediate ban on fox hunting and hare coursing in Ireland.
TD Paul Murphy currently has a bill to ban hare coursing, I urge you to come out in support of this vital bill to help end animal cruelty in Ireland.
Thank you for your time, I look forward to your reply.
Kind Regards,
[YOUR NAME]"
Make sure to also sign the petition to ban fox hunting in Ireland.