A Fianna Fáil TD has said it is “frustrating” to be whipped into voting down upcoming legislation banning hare coursing, which he said is an animal cruelty practice.Dublin Rathdown TD Shay Brennan said he would vote against the legislation in line with the Fianna Fáil party whip, but that a “growing number of TDs” are finding it increasingly difficult to defend a pro-coursing position.He said “a lot of that would be coming from the constituency and their voters”, and it was not just Dublin TDs who shared his view. “It’s frustrating to be whipped on this issue but you have to respect that Fianna Fáil has taken a collective position.”The Dáil is due to vote on the legislation, tabled by People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy, next week. It would prohibit the coursing of hares with dogs by amending the Wildlife Act 1976 and the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013.It would make it an offence to enter a dog for a hare coursing event, permit a dog to be entered for such an event, or to attend, participate or knowingly facilitate the event. In hare coursing, a hare is released and chased by muzzled dogs, with the winning dog judged to be the one who first forced the animal to turn. Animal rights bodies say the practice terrifies the hares and is inherently cruel.[ Free vote urged on Bill seeking to ban hare coursingOpens in new window ]Other Fianna Fáil TDs have expressed support for the practice in advance of the vote. Speaking on RTÉ Radio on Thursday, Carlow-Kilkenny TD Peter ‘Chap’ Cleere said it was one of the most regulated sports in Ireland and a popular rural tradition. Brennan said many constituents would regard the practice as incompatible with contemporary animal welfare standards, a view he would agree with. He said he intended to raise the issue at next week’s Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting.“I’ll fight the fight internally, hopefully over time we can move on this and begin to phase out this and other animal cruelty practices.”Another Fianna Fáil representative, speaking privately, said the matter had been the subject of considerable discussion among Dublin TDs and senators from Fianna Fáil, cautioning that the party risked being “increasingly seen as a party that’s dominated by a rural agenda and rural issues”. A third Fianna Fáiler said the practice of hare coursing seems to be an issue people in “the cities and big towns are getting upset about and there’s an anxiety on the part of the Dublin PP [Fianna Fáil representatives in the capital] to reflect that”. Fianna Fáil senator Mary Fitzpatrick, who lives in Dublin Central, said she would like to see hare coursing banned.“I think it’s an unnecessary activity and don’t see it has a place,” she said, adding that her Dáil for her colleagues should have a free vote next week.Sources in the parliamentary party said there had been a discussion about potentially seeking to have the whip removed. However, this was seen as unlikely given concerns over the Opposition putting forward legislation that would seek to strategically divide Government TDs. Murphy, who represents Dublin South-West, said he put forward the Bill as the practice is “inherently cruel”.He said wild hares are solitary creatures but are caught and kept in enclosures to be used in coursing, which causes stress. “But then they are used as live bait for greyhounds and forced to run for their lives. It’s time to join the North, Britain and most of Europe in banning this barbaric practice.”