Local protests set to greet Gormley's Wildlife Bill

A major demonstration is planned to take place outside Leinster House tomorrow (Thursday) evening, when Environment Minister John Gormley is to move the controversial Wildlife Amendment Bill which includes the ban on the Ward Union Hunt. A series of protest meetings and rallies have also been organised around the country by the Rural Ireland Says Enough (RISE!), including one in Navan tonight (Wednesday) and Trim this Saturday. Ratoath councillor Nicholas Killian, who is based close to the Ward Union headquarters at Greenpark, has accused the Environment Minister of 'cowardice' in deciding to 'guillotine' the debate on the Bill in the Dail Chamber, and has called on the Taoiseach to allow a free vote. The Bill, which will ban stag hunting by the Ward Union Hunt, has been opposed up and down the country, Cllr Killian pointed out. "Once again, Mr Gormley and the Greens, wagging the Fianna Fail dog, in a very cowardly act stemming any real debate, is going to guillotine this Bill in order to appease his Green Party members," Cllr Killian said. "I am laying the blame for this fairly and squarely at the door of the Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, for agreeing in the first place to this Bill being enacted to stay in Government with the Greens. As a Fianna Fail member, I am disgusted that a Fianna Fail Government is allowing Gormley and his gang of do-gooders walk all over the people of rural Ireland." Cllr Killian said that it is not just the stag hunting ban, but the Dog Breeding Bill and the banning of turf cutting on certain bogs "to protect a few flowers" that is targeting rural life in this country. "Will he next close down Bord na Mona and stop them harvesting peat from our bogs? Heed is not being taken on board of the jobs that will be lost, of the local farmers and livery people who will lose income. I am calling on the Taoiseach to allow a free vote next Thursday and allow Fianna Fail deputies who do not in any way support this Bill, and not to force them into the 'yes' lobby on Thursday. It's time to call a halt to this self-inflicted massacre of Fianna Fail," remarked Cllr Killian. The RISE! campaign has announced a series of public demonstrations, a major rally and other campaigning initiatives in response to John Gormley's decision to force new anti-hunting laws through, and is calling on all supporters of traditional rural pastimes to support the rallies. To coincide with the start of the Dáil debate, there will be a demonstration outside the Dáil from 7pm to 9pm on Thursday. The people of Meath, Dublin and surrounding counties are also being invited to a rally in Trim to publicly demonstrate their support for the campaign at 12 noon on Saturday. There will also be a demonstration outside the Dáil all day on Wednesday 30th June. Tonoght (Wednesday) in Simonstown GAA Centre, an information night will be held with prominent speakers from across the racing, hunting, and traditional rural pastimes associations attending. It begins at 8.30pm.