MLAs vote for ban on hunting with dogs

The second stage of a bill which aims to ban hunting with dogs in NI was passed by MLAs at Stormont on Tuesday.

The private members bill from the Alliance Party’s John Blair received support from 60 MLAs, with 15 members voting against.

The vote took place as the Countryside Alliance warned that the proposed legislation could have implications beyond hunting.

In particular, the rural lobby group argued that the bill could criminalise anyone who has a dog that unintentionally chases a wild mammal in the countryside.

However, bill sponsor John Blair told the MLAs that no such conviction has come up in other regions of the UK where similar legislation is already in place.

“The terms of the bill have been tried and tested in the rest of the UK. The only people who need to worry about it are those who enjoy the cruelty of encouraging dogs to chase a wild mammal for the kill,” he said.

The Alliance MLA also pointed out that the bill contains exemptions, such as allowing up to two dogs to be used to protect livestock, crops, human health and biodiversity.

Following Tuesday’s vote, the draft legislation now moves to committee stage where MLAs will hear evidence from stakeholders and can propose amendments to the bill.