We are writing to update you on our initial view of John Blair’s Hunting with Dogs Bill, which was published and introduced into the assembly on Monday (27 April) and to share our early concerns.

You will not be surprised that we do not believe that there is any justification for legislation to restrict or prohibit hunting with hounds. This Bill seems to go further, however, and at first reading appears significantly more far-reaching than previous iterations, including the 2021 proposal. In particular, the expanded definition of “hunting” and the definition of “participation” are drafted in a way that means the Bill could extend well beyond just a ban on hunting and risks impacting a wide range of legitimate countryside activities involving dogs, including shooting.

Of particular concern is the fact that an offence of participating in hunting “includes a reference to participation in another activity (such as pursuit by a dog of an artificial or human scent) in the course of which a dog hunts a wild mammal” This raises early questions about potential unintended consequences for activities such as pest control, search and rescue operations, shooting and drag hunting, where dogs may deviate from artificial or intended scent trails or other lawful activity. This is particularly serious as hunting is now defined to include searching which means an offence can be committed even when no wild mammal is pursued, found or even present.

We are currently carrying out a full and detailed legal and policy assessment of the Bill and once this has been completed, we will provide a further update setting out our considered position and the next steps for engagement and campaigning work.

In the meantime, we would be grateful if you could encourage friends, family, and wider contacts within the countryside community to sign up to the Countryside Alliance Ireland newsletter. Staying informed and connected will be essential as this legislation progresses.

Please complete our e-lobby and send a clear message to your MLAs not to support this Bill.