Public Consultation - Private Members' Bill to Ban Hunting of Wild Mammals with Dogs |
Introductory Material (Consulation starts 21/10/24, Ends 13/01/25)
John Blair MLA plans to use a Private Members’ Bill to ban the hunting of wild mammals with dogs in Northern Ireland. The Bill, if passed, will also ban trail hunting and effectively outlaw flushing with dogs for pest control, also known as ‘terrier work’. Possible exemptions may apply.
The legislation would make illegal the use of dogs to hunt, attack and kill mammals, for example, and could include pre-emptive measures to not make available any loopholes where dogs are used for flushing in large numbers or where trail hunting becomes a bigger reality in Northern Ireland.
The legislation will reflect on the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Act 2023 and Westminster (The Hunting Act 2004, England and Wales) Acts, whilst addressing weaknesses identified in these pieces of legislation. The legislation will also reflect on the review by Lord Bonomy in Scotland, and will include the implementation of similar measures to ensure no future loopholes may be created.
What is the case for reform?
Northern Ireland is the only part of the United Kingdom without a ban on hunting live mammals with dogs, which includes hunting foxes. There has been a strong lobby in Northern Ireland to ban hunting with dogs, and other cruel sports. Indeed, there have been some changes, for example hare coursing has been illegal in Northern Ireland since 2011.
The Northern Ireland Assembly, since its inception, has failed to deal with this issue adequately. In 2021, Mr Blair brought forward a similar Private Members’ Bill, but regrettably, it was narrowly defeated at the Second Stage. He is determined to reintroduce his previous Bill in this mandate and has carefully considered the concerns raised during the debates on his previous Bill.
Since Mr Blair's previous bill, Scotland has passed its Hunting With Dogs Act (2023), which is now arguably the most robust hunting law in the United Kingdom. Mr Blair’s new Private Members’ Bill's aspirations are comparable in ambition to Scotland’s Hunting with Dogs Act, as the latter ends illegal hunts and closes loopholes in the previous 20-year-old legislation.
The legislation would make illegal the use of dogs to hunt, attack and kill mammals, for example, and could include pre-emptive measures to not make available any loopholes where dogs are used for flushing in large numbers or where trail hunting becomes a bigger reality in Northern Ireland.
The legislation will reflect on the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Act 2023 and Westminster (The Hunting Act 2004, England and Wales) Acts, whilst addressing weaknesses identified in these pieces of legislation. The legislation will also reflect on the review by Lord Bonomy in Scotland, and will include the implementation of similar measures to ensure no future loopholes may be created.
What is the case for reform?
Northern Ireland is the only part of the United Kingdom without a ban on hunting live mammals with dogs, which includes hunting foxes. There has been a strong lobby in Northern Ireland to ban hunting with dogs, and other cruel sports. Indeed, there have been some changes, for example hare coursing has been illegal in Northern Ireland since 2011.
The Northern Ireland Assembly, since its inception, has failed to deal with this issue adequately. In 2021, Mr Blair brought forward a similar Private Members’ Bill, but regrettably, it was narrowly defeated at the Second Stage. He is determined to reintroduce his previous Bill in this mandate and has carefully considered the concerns raised during the debates on his previous Bill.
Since Mr Blair's previous bill, Scotland has passed its Hunting With Dogs Act (2023), which is now arguably the most robust hunting law in the United Kingdom. Mr Blair’s new Private Members’ Bill's aspirations are comparable in ambition to Scotland’s Hunting with Dogs Act, as the latter ends illegal hunts and closes loopholes in the previous 20-year-old legislation.
There has been consistent public support in Northern Ireland for a ban on hunting with dogs. Polling over the years has consistently shown this trend, with the most recent opinion poll in 2024 further confirming it. The poll was conducted by LucidTalk Limited and commissioned by the USPCA and the League Against Cruel Sports as part of the Together campaign. It ran in February 2024, receiving responses from 1,050 people.
The poll found that: 87% of respondents said deer hunting should be banned; 76% would ban fox hunting; 82% would ban hare hunting; and 77% would ban rabbit hunting.
The poll also highlighted a known issue within Northern Ireland: only 53% of respondents knew it was legal to use dogs to hunt live animals in Northern Ireland. Therefore, 47% of respondents were unaware that hunting is still legal.
There is strong support from the farming community for a ban on hunting with dogs due to issues like trespassing, fencing damage, harm to livestock, and threats to biosecurity by potentially spreading disease. Despite public calls to end this practice, including fox hunting, a minority continue to enjoy it, highlighted by events like the Boxing Day hunt. Northern Ireland's lack of hunting legislation allows for animal cruelty, particularly in terrier work, where dogs can suffer serious injury in the fight with prey.
The Minister of Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Affairs has no plans to introduce hunting legislation and supports a Private Members’ Bill aimed at prohibiting hunting live mammals with dogs. This legislation is necessary to enforce a ban and enable prosecutions, serving as a future deterrent.
Mr. Blair welcomes public feedback on this proposal.