Political bloodletting as hunting season underway

The new hunting season is underway, and politicians can sense the blood. There is no better bloodsport than politics, and in Meath East, a stronghold of hounds and horses, the public representatives are about to be set loose on each other. Reports in the national media yesterday (Tuesday) that Taoiseach Enda Kenny firmly ruled out any reversal of the ban on stag hunting, one of Fine Gael's pre-election promises made by Shane McEntee, has blooded the opposition. Former Meath East TD, Senator Thomas Byrne, says that there are now doubts over Minister McEntee's credibility. "Many people in Meath who previously voted for me before the last election, voted for Shane McEntee as a result of his commitment to reverse the ban," Senator Byrne said in a statement yesterday (Tuesday). "These genuine and committed citizens would also have been encouraged by Minister McEntee when he said that 'The time is coming shortly when the Ward Union will be back under the legislation introduced by Michael D Higgins in 1996' in a recent Seanad debate," Senator Byrne said. "This information given by Minister McEntee has turned out to be incorrect and he must reflect on that," he added. Senator Byrne said it was necessary for ministers to live up to the promises made at the last general election "or at the very least admit that they are doing u-turn after u-turn on a range of issues from stag hunting to roads to hospitals". Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore has also ruled out any change to the existing ban, which is not on the programme for government. Tally-ho!