Hare coursing is a cruel bloodsport

Sir — I’m baffled by the Government’s attitude to free votes. It appears willing to allow a free vote on the issue of drink-driving — though the usual rationale behind relaxing of the party whips is that a given proposal has no serious consequences for the economy or the general well-being of society.

Drink-drinking hardly falls into that category. Nor can it be termed an issue of conscience for individuals since it is a proven fact that drink-driving threatens life and limb, leaving no room for soul-searching except among the delusional or those beholden to the drinks industry.

By contrast, TD Maureen O’ Sullivan’s bill to ban hare coursing last year ticked all the boxes required for removal of the whips. Whether it passed into law or otherwise, no human being would be adversely affected (apart from a few sore heads if coursing fans opted to drown their sorrows and hired taxies home) while having huge benefits for our wonderful wildlife heritage. But four political parties applied the whip to defeat the proposal.

I have campaigned against this bloodsport for years and I cannot fathom why the parties won’t allow a free vote on it. The sky wouldn’t fall, the economy wouldn’t spiral into the depths of fiscal hell, and life would go on as normal the following day.

All that would have to change is that a gentle creature — that is now persecuted for human amusement — would be free to run and play in our verdant countryside and no longer be forced to twist and turn and dodge... or be tossed about like a broken doll by greyhounds.

Drink-driving is one of the issues where the whip is 100pc justified, because human lives are on the line and need saving. But I can see no justification for whipping TDs into voting down or endorsing a measure to protect hares. This is a clear non-party issue of conscience where the application of the whip seems farcical and heavy-handed. John Fitzgerald, Callan, Co Kilkenny