"Clamp Down on This Barbarity"
It's not often that you find Sinn Fein and Jim Allister united in their view of anything, but last night's harrowing Spotlight expose of dog fighting appears to have provoked a rare consensus. The independent unionist MEP says he will approach the European commission to ask how it proposes to "clamp down on this barbarity across Europe". Meanwhile Sinn Fein's Francie Brolly says noone can fail to be "shocked at the barbarity of the dog fighting that has been exposed". Sinn Fein's Culture Committee chair Barry McElduff also expressed his shock at what he had seen in Mandy McAuley's report, although, speaking on Talkback, the fervent Tyrone supporter stopped short of calling on the GAA to drop Ger Cavlan, who featured in the programme. Mr McElduff argued that "responsibility rests with the individual" rather than the GAA as an organisation. The Tyrone GAA has, at the time of writing, refused to comment.
Whilst Jim Allister wants to tighten up EU animal passports, Alliance's Stewart Dickson is calling for tighter laws governing aggressive dogs which attack other dogs. Councillors complain that the current rules governing when animals can be destroyed often lead to delays and enormous expense to the ratepayers.
The Department of Agriculture recently completed a consultation on animal welfare legislation which considered tightening the law on betting on dog fights, filming dog fights and seizing dogs involved in fights. The consultation closed in December 2006. I asked the Department this morning where things now stand so far as any fresh legislation is concerned but so far they haven't got back to me.
UPDATE: Ian Paisley has raised the matter with both Bertie Ahern and Shaun Woodward. He says the authorities must "ensure an end to this depraved activity. We must ensure a co-ordinated approach that will deliver an end to the practices of cruelty to dogs and the ease with which dangerous dogs are able to be imported into our country."
FURTHER UPDATE: The Department of Agriculture says the Minister Michelle Gildernew is considering 92 responses to its consultation, before deciding what further legislation is required. They say the Irish government is planning a comprehensive Animal Welfare Bill and officials are "working closely with their ROI counterparts in order that broadly similar legislation is introduced on the Island of Ireland鈥. Ms Gildernew has expressed her "disgust" at the sickening images of dog fighting.
I'm 
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Mark
麻豆官网首页入口 SPOTLIGHT: 30 AUGUST, 2007 鈥 BRILLIANT! BRILLIANT! BRILLIANT!
Spotlight鈥檚 report on dog fighting was a tour de force of investigative journalism. The graphic exposure of this gruesome activity was executed brilliantly. Without a shred of doubt, the unmasking of the Degenerates who take part in such a vile practice was truly a public service. If this Programme doesn鈥檛 convince the Northern Ireland Authorities, notably Politicians, Police and the Public Prosecution Service, of the need to address this evil in our midst, then nothing will!
Last night鈥檚 Spotlight was a rarity these days because it showed the 麻豆官网首页入口 at its best. The Beeb should forget the makeover and 鈥榩hone-in rubbish that dominates the schedules and get back to the pursuit of excellence exemplified by this edition of Spotlight.
Well done to Mandy McAuley, the very courageous Undercover Reporter and the Production Team. They all had a good day at the office.
Susie Flood
Carryduff
I agree with Susie Flood.
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