Alliance MLA quiet on his hunting bill's impact on shooting and the use of gundogs
The Alliance MLA behind a bid to ban hunting with dogs has yet to respond to questions on whether his proposals would mean major changes to current shooting practices involving gundogs.
John Blair’s legislation has been criticised by the Countryside Alliance, who say it would represent a “fundamental restriction” on the activity and could leave people involved in field sports at risk of prosecution.
The legislation is in its early stages, with the impact on shooting likely to be a key factor for DUP and Sinn Fein MLAs.
The DUP allows its members to make up their own minds on the issue, while Sinn Fein has not said whether it supports the Bill’s intention in principle – despite passing a recent resolution to ban fox hunting for recreational purposes.
The Ulster Unionist Party has declined to comment on its position, however it is understood there are stark divisions within the party over the issue. Some back Mr Blair’s legislation, while others are vehemently opposed over the potential ramifications on shooting.
The proposed hunting with dogs legislation contains exemptions for management of wild animals above ground - providing no more than two dogs are involved. Anything more would be considered a pack and illegal.
However, the exemptions relate purely to preventing damage to crops or livestock; preventing the spread of disease; preserving human health or preventing serious damage to the biological diversity of an area.
It would therefore apparently be illegal to use dogs to search for, stalk or flush from cover a wild mammal to shoot for the purposes of sport or food - or to search for and retrieve a wild mammal for those purposes.
For example, it appears it would be illegal to use dogs when hunting rabbits or deer for food.
The News Letter sent questions to Mr Blair on Wednesday morning to ask if he disputes this interpretation, but despite a number of subsequent attempts to contact him directly and via the party he has not responded. We had also asked if he accepts the law would be a major change to the practice of shooting with dogs in Northern Ireland, banning it for the purposes of sport or hunting for food.
On Thursday, he appeared before the Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (AERA) committee to explain the legislation.
DUP MLA Tom Buchanan asked about the legal position for someone who was shooting with three springer spaniels. Mr Blair said that he didn’t think the restriction to two dogs was “unreasonable at all” and said he was making efforts to stop people “willingly establishing groups of dogs” through loopholes in the legislation.
The South Antrim MLA said the bill is “clear in its intent to ban the killing of wild mammals using dogs” – and said there is “no mention” of “other forms of hunting such as hunting using guns to shoot wildfowl, or angling”. He said these were “often brought up” but are “not relevant”.
MLAs on the AERA committee couldn’t reach a decision on whether they would back Mr Blair’s bill in principle, with Sinn Fein and DUP members wanting to discuss the issue with their parties first. The DUP has a free vote for its MLAs on the issue. The proposals were previously rejected in 2021.
Last year, the News Letter reported that Blair had initially said the laws are not only aimed at fox hunts, but also deer hunting and “other forms of hunting where dogs are used to flush or kill rabbits”. Mr Blair later said that is not his intent – and the law is primarily about fox hunting with dogs.
At the Sinn Fein ard fheis last weekend, a membership proposal for a ban on the practice of fox hunting with dogs “for the sole purpose of leisure” was narrowly passed. SF later said that its policy is “to prohibit fox hunting on horseback with hounds” but there “are no other changes to our policies in relation to hunting or any other rural pursuits”.
A SF TD said that the party “continues to support rural country pursuits including fishing, shooting and drag or trail hunting”. Given questions about the Stormont bill’s potential impact other country pursuits, the News Letter asked where the party stood on the Alliance proposal – and the potential impact on the use of gundogs. SF did not respond.