O’Callaghan criticises Sinn Féin for voting against fox hunting bill

Sinn Féin’s decision to vote alongside rural independents and Independent Ireland on a Dáil vote on fox hunting has been criticised by Social Democrats TD and acting leader Cian O’Callaghan.

On Wednesdsay, Sinn Féin’s TDs voted against the bill while Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and other opposition parties such as the Social Democrats and Labour voted for the bill, proposed by Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger.

The optics of Sinn Féin voting alongside rural independents has been widely received with bemusement, and O’Callaghan has wasted no time in criticising Sinn Féin for their move.

First reported in the Irish Times, O’Callaghan wrote to Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald calling Sinn Féin’s stance on the vote “deeply troubling.”

“While the Social Democrats believe strongly that blood sports are barbaric and cruel, we recognise the democratic right of Sinn Féin to take an opposing view,” he wrote, in a letter seen by The Irish Times.

The Dublin Bay North TD added, “however, the decision by Sinn Féin to vote to prevent a bill going to the second stage was unprecedented and deeply troubling.”

O’Callaghan noted “as far as I am aware, a political party has never attempted to block an opposition TD tabling a piece of legislation.”

“What is really extraordinary about what happened is that it was Sinn Féin – an opposition party – which attempted to block a Bill from another opposition grouping – People Before Profit/Solidarity – proceeding to the second stage.”

He said that Sinn Féin’s stance only serves to “undermine” the opposition.

O’Callaghan’s comments reflect a growing unease among the opposition; despite the opposition pledging to work together to hold the Fianna Fáil/Fine Gael/independents government to account, and have held a strong line on the likes of neutrality, Israel and disability rights, there has been a clear divide on issues such as trans rights, immigration, and now, the issue of fox hunting.

Speaking in the Dáil last week, Labour TD Duncan Smith criticised Sinn Féin’s plan to entirely cut supports for refugees from Ukraine, saying “putting the blame on Ukrainians is cynical and exploitative,” while People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy said last year that Sinn Féin were “scapegoating” migrants.

On Thursday, Coppinger called for a “free vote” on the bill as it progresses to the second stage, saying “having a free conscience vote would allow TDs to vote in line with the majority of people who want fox hunting banned, without parties being pressured by small but powerful lobby groups.”