Fox overpopulation devastates rural Ireland. Lambs and chickens are torn apart in a horrific fashion leaving farmers traumatised and livelihoods at risk. While the Bill frames hunting as cruel, unchecked fox population often inserts far greater cruelty to the livestock population. Hunting is often the only humane way to flush foxes from an area. If we ban this particular issue, it may push farmers into more difficult ways in terms of poisoning, snarls and so on. We need to protect farmers in rural Ireland, and I believe we should not support the Bill that will force farmers into other ways. There is a significant issue of overpopulation of foxes.

We have had a two-hour debate on the proposed Bill to ban fox hunting this morning. I have clearly outlined that the Government intends to oppose that Bill.