LETTER: Minister Creed no friend of the fox

SIR – In response to a recent Dáil question from Maureen O'Sullivan TD, in which she asked ‘his views on whether fox hunting is unacceptable here’ and if legislation to outlaw it would be introduced, the Minister responsible for animal welfare, Michael Creed TD, declared: ‘I have no plans to change the existing legislation.’
In his response, the Minister farcically claimed that the existing legislation – the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 – ‘requires persons to ensure that animals being hunted are not subject to unnecessary suffering.’
The presence of an inserted exemption for foxhunting in the Animal Health and Welfare Act is proof that the government recognises the bloodsport as being cruel and involving suffering. Without this exemption, foxhunters would be liable to prosecution for their appalling cruelty.
In adopting the role of a rural Tricoteuse, Minister Creed is happy to permit the legalised torture and killing of foxes for entertainment. 
It says a lot about the calibre of politician that currently exists on the national political stage in that here is an issue that requires a statesman's resolve to make generational change but the political intelligence is lacking. 
Hunting with hounds is cruel. No debate there. Legislation to outlaw it is required. No debate there.  
The Minister responsible for bringing forward legislation to end live animal hunting lacks the nous to see that the electorate is demanding that this activity is removed from our society.
Given that he is no friend to foxes, Minister Creed in adopting the three-monkey principle – see no evil, hear no evil, and speak no evil – proves that at least he likes one animal.
Yours,
John Tierney,
Campaigns Director,
Association of Hunt Saboteurs,
PO Box 4734,
Dublin 1.