A Renewed Push to Outlaw Hunting with Dogs
A fresh legislative attempt to ban the hunting of wild mammals with dogs in Northern Ireland has been launched at Stormont, five years after a similar bill was narrowly defeated. Alliance Party MLA John Blair has reintroduced a Private Member’s Bill, a move that has reignited a passionate and divisive debate across the country. Northern Ireland remains the only part of the United Kingdom where this practice is still legal, a point of contention for animal welfare advocates and a cherished tradition for rural communities.
The previous attempt in 2021 failed by a vote of 45 to 38, largely due to opposition from Sinn Féin, which at the time favoured regulation over an outright ban. However, the political landscape has shifted. At its recent Ard Fheis, Sinn Féin members narrowly voted to support a ban on fox hunting for leisure, a significant policy change that could prove decisive in the bill's second reading. This has given Mr. Blair and his supporters a renewed sense of optimism that the legislation could finally pass.
The Bill's Provisions and Aims
Mr. Blair's bill seeks to bring Northern Ireland in line with England, Wales, and Scotland, where bans on hunting with dogs have been in place for years. He has described the practice as “cruel, inhumane, and outdated,” highlighting the suffering of animals chased to exhaustion and killed. The bill is not just about foxes; it aims to prohibit the hunting of all wild mammals with dogs, including the use of terriers to trap animals underground, a practice that often results in serious injuries to the dogs themselves.
The proposed legislation includes exemptions for certain activities, such as livestock protection and biodiversity management, in an effort to address some of the concerns raised during the previous debate. Mr. Blair has stated that he has worked to clarify any ambiguities that may have caused confusion in the past, such as the impact on dog walking. The core of the bill, however, remains a firm prohibition on the use of dogs to chase and kill wild mammals for sport.
A Divided Response
The reintroduction of the bill has been met with a predictably divided response. Animal welfare groups, such as the League Against Cruel Sports and the USPCA, have welcomed the move, launching a joint petition to make hunting for sport illegal. They point to public polling that suggests a majority of people in Northern Ireland support a ban, with over 50% mistakenly believing one is already in place.
On the other side of the debate, the Countryside Alliance Ireland has condemned the bill as “misguided and divisive,” and a “fundamental attack on the rural way of life.” They argue that the legislation could have far-reaching consequences beyond fox hunting, potentially impacting other country pursuits like shooting and the use of gundogs. The Alliance has also questioned the timing of the bill, suggesting that politicians should be focused on more pressing issues like the cost-of-living crisis and the state of the health service.
The Political Calculus
The fate of the bill will ultimately depend on the political calculations of the parties at Stormont. While the Alliance Party holds the agriculture and environment portfolio, and the DUP has traditionally allowed a free vote on the issue, all eyes will be on Sinn Féin. The party's recent policy shift is a game-changer, but it remains to be seen how they will instruct their MLAs to vote. There are concerns within the party that a ban could alienate rural voters, and the narrow margin of the vote at the Ard Fheis suggests that this is a sensitive issue.
Mr. Blair remains hopeful, citing growing momentum and what he perceives as increased support from some DUP members. He is confident that there is sufficient time in the current Assembly mandate to see the bill through the legislative process. The second reading of the bill is expected to take place soon, and it will be a crucial test of the political will at Stormont to finally bring an end to this centuries-old practice.
