Poll shows overwhelming opposition to fox hunting

Michael Bolton

A new poll has shown a huge overwhelming opposition to fox hunting.

An Ireland Thinks poll shows 98 per cent of people have never taken part in a fox hunt where riders on horseback follow a pack of dogs hunting a fox.

72 per cent of people said fox hunting should be banned as a sport, while 62 per cent said they are strongly opposed to hunting animals for sport.

23 per cent said they are moderately opposed.

Ruth Coppinger, Solidarity TD who is moving the Bill to ban fox hunting, commented:“Today’s Ireland Thinks poll is a massive blow to the credibility of those opposing the ban on fox hunting. "There is overwhelming opposition to fox hunting across all demographics, regions, ages, and genders.

“81 per cent of people support a ban on fox hunting when Don’t Knows are excluded.

Less than one in five of those polled oppose a ban. The poll also shows huge opposition across all regions.

“Just two per cent of the population have ever participated in a fox hunt. It is a falsehood that fox hunting represents a rural way of life.

"The reality is that it’s marginal and arcane.

“62 per cent are strongly opposed to hunting animals for sport, and 23 per cent are moderately opposed. Only 3% are strongly in favour of hunting animals for sport.

“Animal cruelty is not popular. The government parties and Sinn Féin need to wake up and see that they are backing a practice that is unpopular. Only 17 per cent expressed any support for fox hunting.

“I call on the three big parties to look closely at this poll. If they direct their TDs to vote en bloc to maintain fox hunting, they are blocking the popular will. They must allow a free vote on 17 December to reflect the huge desire to end a cruel and barbaric practice.”