Lough Key Forest Park is a national treasure and must at all costs be kept in public ownership. We're really worried that plans are afoot to sell it or part off, similar to what happened at Newcastle Forest where publicly owned land of which we the Irish people are the stakeholders of was leased to a foreign private company for profit gain. Una Bhan is a 'high' POEM / song in the Gaelic tradition,which tells the tragic love affair she had with a rival of her father.It is widely sung the length and breath of Ireland,and it symbolises our rich gaelic culture.She is buried on an Island close by......our heritage belongs to everyone, and no one!

Now I am seeking support from all sides that the dog licence fee be done away with and so at least the poor, the lonely and all dog lovers will not have to face this out of date draconian penal tax and perhaps have a few extra bob to spend over Christmas.

The salmon farming industry is detrimental to wild salmon, peoples health and the ecology of the bays where the cages are. Sea lice from the salmon cages easily infest little salmon making their journey to sea, and many don't return to breed. This massively effects angling tourism, coupled with escaped salmon who spread disease. The antibiotics and food used to farm these "organic" salmon is far from healthy. The E.U definition of "organic" is shocking, and I have never in my life heard of antibiotics growing in a field! Mussels and other native life is effected by the salmon farms, they must be stopped! For more information or to help the campaign further contact Tom Moran via the facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pbpcastlebar Thank you!

Hares are a protected species in Ireland and an national symbol. Prior to a hare coursing event the hares are collected in a cruel manner using nets and then stored in horrendous conditions most likely in small boxes until they are released into a field and chased and mauled by greyhounds. Animal rights organisations have secretly documented and evidenced the cruel methods in collection and storing of the animals. Clare Daly, a TD for Dublin North – the only Dublin constituency, she says, which still has hare coursing events – told the Dail recently that the Irish Council Against Blood Sports has a video of barbarity in Balbriggan. Daly says that the rules around hare coursing are contradictory where, on the one hand, hares are protected under the Wildlife Act but, on the other, under the Animal Health and Welfare Act all animals are protected with the exception of hares to be coursed. She said that this resulted, in 2015, in a situation where 7,000 hares were taken from the wild to be used in live coursing events. While Creed said the figures show that in 2014-15 99.3% of hares are released back into the wild, Daly said it was often to die. “Reports from the National Parks and Wildlife Service… tell us that only 17 of the 75 events held in the country last year had National Parks and Wildlife Service officials in attendance and the state of many of the hares requiring assistance, which were released back to the wild distressed, is evident in its reports, which refute the information given to the Minister by Bord na gCon.” Many hares, she said, which are released back into the wild, were very distressed and die afterwards. Creed said that under legislation ensured a prohibition on the coursing of sick or pregnant hares and a requirement that hares be released back into the wild during daylight hours. However, Daly said at a coursing event in Nenagh, some of the hares released included heavily pregnant hares. Daly said the solution is to ban coursing outright, but Creed said he has no intentions to do so. Ireland is one of only 3 countries in Europe that allow this barbaric so called sport take place. Does this have a place in a caring and compassionate modern Ireland? For the last 25 years independent TD's have attempted to and failed to have this act banned in the Dail. Supporters call it tradition, a tradition where grown men stand in a field and cheer whilst watching animals be terrorised and mauled. The word tradition is used too often to for justification for terrible acts. How can we as a nation condemn other countries for animal cruelty like bull fighting and whale hunting when we accept this in our own lands. TD's should firstly be allowed to vote with their conscious and not with the whip and the government who has given its support to the continuation of hare coursing. Its important that we send a strong message to the government that it is not acceptable in a caring and compassionate Ireland that cherishes its protected species.

Exporting racing greyhounds to Asia is condemning them to certain death in areas where no animal welfare laws exist and where no rehoming programs are in place. When shipped to Macau to race at the infamous Canidrome, they are condemned to live in miserable conditions, in barren concrete cells, raced on dangerous tracks, and killed as soon as they don't place in three of five consecutive races. All greyhounds entering the Macau Canidrome will be dead within three years. At the end of 2015, the Australian ABC aired the investigation by Animals Australia regarding Australian greyhounds being exported to Asia (http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2015/s4369266.htm). Following this report, and the understandable public reaction to it, Qantas made the following statement: "...in light of the story we have made the decision to no longer provide racing greyhound freight services to Asia." (http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/qantas-will-no-longer-carry-racing-greyhounds-on-flights-to-asia-20151212-glm08m.html). This had the effect of drying up the supply of greyhounds, especially those destined for Macau. Now racing greyhounds are being sourced from Ireland. In May, a shipment of 24 Irish greyhounds bound for Asia was spotted being transferred from the animal transport van, that took them from Ireland, into a furniture removal truck in Manchester. They were then driven in this furniture truck to Heathrow, bound for Asia, but the Animal Welfare Reception Centre refused to accept them due to their cages being unsuitable. These 24 greyhounds have since been returned to Ireland to the owner who tried to ship them to Macau. The Irish government and the IGB (Irish Greyhound Board) have been pressured by a growing international community to take action, and during a joint initiative between the DAFM, the International Greyhound Forum (represented by ISPCA and Dogs Trust), and the IGB it was stated that "All parties present agreed to actively explore all avenues to ensure the export of greyhounds takes place only to jurisdictions with high welfare standards.". This may include setting up a similar policy to that implemented in Australia in 2013 by Greyhounds Australasia (GA) to make it against industry rules to export greys to destinations where welfare standards don't meet local standards. We've already seen in Australia that a similar industry ruling didn't stop exports. 179 trainers have recently been charged by Greyhound Racing New South Wales with exporting Australian greyhounds to the prohibited jurisdiction of Macau and face fines, suspension or being banned from racing (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-06-09/greyhound-racing-nsw-charges-179-trainers-owners/7497738). This demonstrates that an industry ban, especially when not policed, does nothing to stop greyhounds being exported to prohibited jurisdictions. What effectively stopped exports was the decision by Qantas to refuse carriage. We ask that the Irish government take a serious stand and legislates against the exportation of its racing greyhounds to countries with inadequate welfare standards. A list of jurisdictions should be drawn up that, due to inadequate welfare standards, become prohibited destinations for the export of Irish greyhounds and the government should make it illegal to export racing greyhounds to those destinations. This list should include, at least, China, Vietnam, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Pakistan, Venezuela and Argentina. We ask that the IGB be held responsible and accountable for policing and enforcing this ban.

As Limerick City is on an estuary, it is expected that any problems caused by excess amounts of Orthophosphate entering the Shannon from households in the city will be mitigated by the tidal movements of the estuary. This is not good environmental practice and is simply fixing one problem by creating another problem. There are two solutions that can solve the problem of lead in water. One solution is to completely remove and replace all old lead piping, lead fixtures and lead fittings in the plumbing system of the house. The other solution which may also be less costly, is to add a water filter or filtration system that will remove metals like lead and other contaminants and ensure the drinking water supply is pure and safe to drink. There are also health issues with the use of this chemical not just the fact there adding it to water already effected by fluoride. The phosphate in sodium phosphate can cause calcification of your organs, the University of Maryland Medical Centre notes. Phosphate sometimes causes your soft tissue to calcify as well. When your organs and soft tissue become calcified, your ability to utilize minerals such as iron, calcium, magnesium and zinc becomes impaired. These minerals are vital to the proper function of your body. Being unable to properly utilize them will lead to further problems and complications. Sodium phosphate has been associated with severe kidney damage, sometimes requiring dialysis, according to a 2009 article in PubMed Health. Kidney damage is associated with dehydration and constipation. Dizziness and decreased urination also can indicate kidney damage, but a biopsy offers more conclusive proof of kidney damage. Consuming it more frequently than once every seven days might elevate your risk of developing kidney damage, according to MedlinePlus. Sometimes sodium phosphate causes severe allergic reactions characterized by hives or skin rashes that appear all over your body, as well as itching and breathing difficulties. Allergic reactions also can cause your chest and throat to feel tight. Blood sometimes appears in your stool. Your facial area will also swell when you experience an allergic reaction. During a severe allergic reaction, your arms and legs sometimes also swell. Confusion, arrhythmia and headaches are also symptoms associated with severe allergic reactions. Seizures and potential loss of consciousness are also typical symptoms of a severe allergic reaction. And already common in our current supply I have been sending letters, Emails etc. to this company for months regarding the Orthophosphate trials in Limerick and Clare.What we want is for them to send a spokes person to Limerick for a public consultation with the residents and citizens who will be effected by this.If they are a genuine company that have any regard for its customers and if this Phosphate is 100% safe then I don't see why they are refusing. We will welcome them and organise a venue This orthophosphate is been used as an escuse not to repair our infrastructure which is on its last legs.Once that falls apart they will sell to the higest bidder and our water will be lost.Ask Berlin about that one or veolia So please help us keep the pressure on we only have weeks left as its going in without our consent in the first quarter of 2016

I believe people should join because the breeding of puppies in very poor Conditions, where dogs (bitches) are bred multiple times is shocking. Irish people are animal lovers&abhor this practice.

We should realise that it s not just property,income and human lives that are affected by these infernos but living creatures in the wild are being burned alive...

Many people are struggling to find suitable accommodation with their pets and some are even forced to give up their much loved pets. Let's do what the French do. Allow our cats and dogs etc. to live with us.

fisheries ,lakes ,rivers ,canals across ireland are being targeted by these so called fishermen , they do not care about how many fish they kill or how they kill them , quite often the fish are just left on the bank to die or thrown into hedgerows and ditches , this sort of cruelty could see our sport come under the spotlight of anti bloodsport organisations as well as the damage it can cause to the eco systems of our waters . predator fish eat diseased and sickly fish ,this stops the spread of disease to other fish and helps keep our waters healthy , its a natural way for waters to deal with disease and over breeding of fish stocks , killing these predators disturbs that balance and throws the ecosystem out of kilter

Banning dogs from beaches will have a detrimental impact on locals and tourism. The local community for beaches where dogs are banned will be forced to walk their dogs in other areas which may be unsafe, not have sidewalks or be pushed into walking their dogs at times they may not feel safe. As a young woman, I go out walking my dog alone and the beach is a place I feel safe. The impact on the mental health of people with dogs will be massive. Not just for locals but for irish people travelling within ireland with a dog. Our dog is a part of our family. We take her with us everywhere and we love going on holiday with her. If she is banned from every beach then it would extremely hard to find places we can go. This will also impact the tourism industry here in ireland. We have a huge caravan and Motorhome tourist community here. These tourists come to ireland because they can bring their dog. My parents bought a caravan specifically for their dog. Banning dogs from beaches will prevent alot of tourists from coming to ireland. The number of dogs being surrendered, especially now after the pandemic has increased massively. Banning dogs from the one place where people love to bring their dog will lead to further surrenders and have an impact on the state. Having a dog is a form of companionship for many people and can be life saving with regard to mental and physical health. Discrimination against people with dogs is unfair and ultimately could lead to further depression in society. The claim for Banning dogs is that it is for hygiene reasons. However, half the beaches around ireland are closed during the summer due to water quality and this is not due to dog excrement, this is due raw sewage continuing to be dumped into itish waterways. Portmarnock beach is a blue flag beach that is frequently closed in the summer due to water quality and does not allow dogs. Rush beaches are hardly ever closed and allow dogs. There is another way to prevent dog excrement that can be utilized not just on beaches but in parks and footpaths. DNA testing is a proven method for addressing this issue and would be more effective than a blanket ban. Ultimately, if we ban dogs from beaches. What next? The park? The footpaths? No dogs allowed in ireland. Where does it end? We bought a house in Rush specifically so we could go for walks on the beach with our dog. If she was banned. It would break my heart and buying a house in the current market was not easy feat. Please don't let this happen all for a blue flag classification to fit into some European standard. We can have our own flagging system if its so important.

It is important because chickens should be treated in this way