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A fresh attempt has been made to pass legislation aimed at banning the hunting of wild animals using dogs in Northern Ireland, a practice currently allowed only in this part of the UK. This new bill has been brought forward by John Blair of the Alliance Party, five years after a similar proposal was rejected by the Northern Ireland Assembly. The original bill faced opposition, including from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), whose then-agriculture and environment minister, Edwin Poots, declined to support the measure.
Northern Ireland remains unique within the United Kingdom as the sole jurisdiction permitting this activity. Since the previous vote, the political landscape has shifted, with the Alliance Party now holding the relevant ministerial post through Andrew Muir. Despite this change, there are concerns that backing the ban could jeopardize the party’s support among rural voters. Sinn Féin, under the leadership of party president Mary Lou McDonald, has indicated a willingness to support a hunting ban, acknowledging that policy decisions are ultimately determined by party members, though the party has not yet announced its formal stance on this latest legislative effort.
The reintroduction of the bill has sparked criticism from Countryside Alliance Ireland, a group advocating for rural lifestyles and interests. Its director, Gary McCartney, argued that focusing political efforts on banning hunting is misguided, especially amid a cost-of-living crisis and challenges facing the health sector. He described such legislative attempts as “quick PR wins” and urged politicians to prioritize more pressing issues that affect people living and working in the countryside and the broader economy.
Meanwhile, within the wider UK context, legislation banning hunting with dogs has long been in place in England and Wales, with such laws introduced around two decades ago. Scotland has its own regulations following a 2002 law that was updated in 2023; under current Scottish legislation, hunting with dogs is permitted only under restricted circumstances, such as disease control, but the pursuit and killing of wild mammals with dogs remains illegal. The Northern Ireland bill will next undergo a second reading, which will determine whether it can proceed through the legislative process or face rejection once again
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