Northern Ireland: Hunting with Dogs consultation summary

Countryside Alliance Ireland strongly rejects the flawed and deeply biased consultation conducted in support of John Blair MLA’s proposed Private Member’s Bill to ban the hunting of wild mammals with dogs in Northern Ireland. The flaws in the consultation are reflected in the recently published summary of the consultation process and findings. Mr Blair’s proposals would devastate rural livelihoods and upend established conservation practices. It is being advanced through a process that disregards local voices, bypasses proper protocols, and is based on ideology, ignoring the available evidence. The implications of the proposed ban would have serious consequences for all those using working dogs in Northern Ireland.

Despite claiming that banning hunting is a response to popular demand, this could not be further from the truth. The most recent consultation shows a dramatic fall in public engagement, with only 12,011 participants, a sharp drop from Mr. Blair’s previous consultation in 2021 and 60% of those are not resident in Northern Ireland. Only 4,804 identified as being from Northern Ireland — a mere 0.25% of the Northern Irish population. The consultation results cannot be seen as reliable and representative basis for legislation that will primarily impact rural communities in Northern Ireland.

In a move that raises serious questions about transparency and process, Mr Blair appears to have excluded consultation with Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and seems not to have approached PSNI or the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) on the financial implications of any ban. Instead, he references comments made by these bodies in 2021 when responding to his earlier, failed bill.

The PSNI and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs were unable to quantify the financial effects of my previous Bill at the time. Therefore, it is difficult to provide any significant detail on this issue at this stage. I do, however, welcome further discussion on these issues as the Bill progresses.

This lack of updated input, especially around financial implications and the burden on resources from two of the most relevant agencies — one responsible for enforcement, the other for rural affairs — represents a dangerous oversight and undermines claims that this is a thorough or credible consultation process. It goes against the Assembly’s own guidance for Private Members’ Bills.

It is also worth noting that, as we understand it, under normal Assembly practice it would be highly irregular for a MLA to bring forward a Private Member’s Bill on a policy area where a member of their own party holds the relevant ministerial portfolio. In this case, John Blair is a member of the Alliance Party — the same party that currently holds the agriculture and environment brief. He continues to ignore the evidence and science revealing this bill for what it is: a personal crusade driven by prejudice, rather than a considered piece of evidence-based policy shaped by party consensus or public necessity.

The consultation summary highlights that 73% of respondents said ending hunting with dogs was “important to them in some way.” However, Mr. Blair fails to clarify how or why the issue was important to each respondent. As the Alliance warned Mr Blair, the question can be answered in the affirmative by those opposed to a ban and those in favour. For one, it may be a passing moral concern; for another, it may represent the loss of their job, income, or an effective method of predator control. Mr Blair has failed to analyse the response and in doing so misleads the public and fellow legislators about the depth and nature of support for this bill.

Countryside Alliance Ireland is referenced multiple times throughout the consultation summary, which acknowledges our significant efforts to represent and inform our members throughout this process. This reflects our strong and continued commitment to ensuring rural voices are heard and that the views of those who live and work in the countryside are not buried beneath the weight of activist-led political agendas.

Hunting with dogs remains a legal, humane, and highly effective method of managing predator species such as foxes. For farmers and land managers, it is often the most practical tool available to protect livestock and maintain ecological balance. A ban would remove this tool and trigger serious economic and environmental consequences, especially for rural Northern Ireland.

Entire industries — including hunt staff, farriers, veterinarians, feed suppliers, and more — rely on legal hunting activities. These jobs and services are under threat, along with a traditional way of life that has long been part of the rural fabric.

Gary McCartney, Director of Countryside Alliance Ireland, said:

“At a time of real crisis — with pressure on healthcare, farming, education, and rural infrastructure — it is deeply concerning that time and resources are being spent on a divisive, low-priority bill. The people of Northern Ireland need action on bread-and-butter issues, not a political sideshow rooted in personal prejudice and activist lobbying masquerading as animal welfare.”

Countryside Alliance Ireland calls on all MLAs to reject this ideologically driven and procedurally flawed proposal based neither on evidence or principle. We urge the Assembly to instead refocus on the real needs of the people of Northern Ireland, and we reaffirm our commitment to defending rural communities, responsible wildlife management, and the rights of our members.