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CALLS ARE BEING made to ban live hare coursing in Ireland after it was announced yesterday that wild animals are to be banned in circuses.
Yesterday, Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed signed regulations that will ban the use of wild animals in circuses. The measures will come into effect on 1 January 2018.
The Campaign for the Abolition of Cruel Sports (CACS) has said that it is taken aback at the “breathtaking hypocrisy” of the government’s move against circuses while allowing hare coursing to continue.
“If anything, coursing is worse than circuses. That hares are terrorised for the amusement of gamblers and thrill seekers,” John Fitzgerald from CACS said.
It is scandalous that these defenseless creatures should be in the possession of any coursing club.
“It’s bad enough that healthy hares are forced to run the gauntlet of a contrived chase in a wired enclosure, and that a percentage of them every year succumb to injury resulting in death when they are mauled, pinned down, or forcibly struck by dogs,” Fitzgerald said.
That is a the public farce of hare coursing, which stands condemned as a perversion of true sport.
In 2015, Sinn Féin representatives in North Kerry came in for criticism after being accused of promoting animal cruelty after wishing a hare coursing group “the best of luck”.
The ad had been taken out in a programme for an event which featured the Listowel coursing club.
CACS has criticised the government for last year voting against the abolition of hare coursing in Ireland.
“They must accept a measure of responsibility for the plight of our iconic Irish hare, a mammal that survived the last Ice Age only to serve a live bait in this so-called sport,” Fitzgerald said.
Circus ban
Announcing the circus ban yesterday, Creed said that “the use of wild animals for entertainment purposes in circuses can no longer be permitted”.
“This is a progressive move, reflective of our commitment to animal welfare,” he said.
While circus owners and operators may have their regrets about this move, Creed said that he appreciated their concern and care for the animals that have been part of their lives.
However, he said the ability of a travelling circus to provide fully for all the needs of animals such as camels or tigers is no longer a tenable position.
“While the retirement of the small numbers of wild animals in circuses might seem like a loss, I am confident that this move will do more to secure the future of the circus community,” Creed said.
The Circuses (Prohibition on Use of Wild Animals) Regulations 2017 are made under the Animal and Welfare Act 2013.
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The winter vomiting bug (norovirus) had been around for some time now. What I cannot understand is Joe public visiting hospitals despite requests not to. Next of kin of course must visit. I’ve seen so much recently of aquatinted people and neighbors …. we can only stop infection by following requests of medical experts.
You get people going to A&E that really don’t need to be there.. the minor injuries clinic will sort you out for things like sprains, stitches, and minor fractures. A&E should be for medical emergencies like serious fractures, head injuries, spinal injuries, cardiac and respiratory problems. If you go to A&E with the sniffles or a minor injury, you are part of the problem in the Irish Health Service. If it’s serious enough, you’ll be referred from your GP or the minor injury clinic or the swift care clinics. They may even get you a spin in an ambulance.
@David: It’s not always practical. Minor injury clinics don’t operate 24/7. The one in Smithfield for example is 8-6 excluding weekends and bank holidays.
Go to the equivalent of SouthDoc then. Get your referral letter, if required, it’ll save you money as you won’t pay the A&E fee, provide reassurance and free up space in the A&E. Most doctors can put a few stitches in… it comes down to common sense. There are an awful lot of hypochondriacs in Ireland.
@David: The problem with crowding is the numbers who require admission and patient flow which is at a standstill. It’s all well and good telling people to first go to their GP, but high acuity patients need to go directly to an A&E. Minor injury units need to operate 24/7. GP’s should have direct access to diagnostics which again should be open 7/7. Triage should also be able to redirect inappropriate attendees back to GP’s.
Another thing that’s strange is people turning up to A&E with not medical issues. Do they not realise theres a out of hours doctor facility Care Doc or South Doc that are more than capable another thing I don’t get is people queuing at a doctor surgery coz they’ve a cough or cold.
Their GPs are still on holiday. If they attend Southdoc they must pay for the service. By going to the CUH they produce their medical card and get it for free and then ring their local radio station complaining about having to wait 8 hours in A&E.
Southdoc don’t charge if the patient has a medical card.
People who require a certificate for work because they have a heavy cold will have to get it from someone. I don’t see the issue with them queuing too get it from their doctor.
Anthony
Most doctors were open 28-30 December plus the car doc deals with any problems put of hours.
Charge everyone the a an e charge. If it is a real emergency you will get admitted and therefore no charge for a and e. Other than that see a GP and let them refer you to a and e if deemed necessary. Medical card holders can see out of hours doc for free but many go straight to a and e as that is free too.
Get well soon, all of ye.
To avoid €100 fee you need a gp letter or a medical card. Seems strange.Ambulance cases or gp referrals only.
Gosh! sick people over the Christmas / winter period, that’s something we’ve never seen before
no mention of the skeleton crews running the hospital last week…
yes yes I know someone will say that Hospital staff are entitled to holidays too, of course they are but not all at the same time
Have seen first hand the volume of patients presenting to an A&e in Cork over the Christmas period. It’s not a case of Skelton staff, in fact there were staff including doctors drafted in from other areas of the hospital to assist with the influx of patients. The doctors and nurses I have met were nothing short of excellent and have given the very best of care to all in the A&E.
No one should be allowed into hospital with the flu unless they’ve been vaccinated. Ditto other preventable diseases. Anyone pissed should be heavily fined.
Awful awful hospital. And shite doctors who will discharge patients without even interacting with them and telling them what’s wrong. Great nurses though.
have your say