Hunting with Dogs

Agriculture and Rural Development – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 3:15 pm on 21 September 2009.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Brian Wilson Brian Wilson Green 3:15, 21 September 2009

8. asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development if she would consider introducing legislation to ban hunting with dogs similar to the Hunting Act 2004 for England and Wales and the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002.            (AQO 67/10)

Photo of Michelle Gildernew Michelle Gildernew Sinn Féin

There has been little political or public debate on hunting in the North. Any decision to introduce a ban on hunting here is not solely a matter for my Department and would have to be taken in conjunction with ministerial colleagues in the Executive. My Department has limited responsibilities towards animals in the wild and it has no powers to prohibit or regulate hunting or coursing with dogs.

Section 15 of the Welfare of Animals Act 1972 exempts from its provision the coursing or hunting of any animal other than a domestic animal. That provision does not legitimise hunting or coursing, but excludes those activities from the offences of cruelty contained in the Act. However, it should be noted that the hunting exemption in the Welfare of Animals Act 1972 does not apply if unnecessary suffering is caused to an animal or if the animal is released in an injured, mutilated or exhausted condition. Similarly, the exemption does not apply if an animal is hunted in an enclosed space from which it has no reasonable chance of escape. Therefore, a prosecution can be made here under existing legislation — unlike in Britain — if sufficient evidence is forthcoming that unnecessary suffering has been caused to an animal during a hunt.

Photo of Brian Wilson Brian Wilson Green

I thank the Minister for her response. However, given that the rest of the United Kingdom has banned this barbaric and cruel sport, I am disappointed that the Minister appears to have no powers. She refers to the Welfare of Animals Act 1972, which provides the power to prosecute in instances in which an animal is injured, mutilated or exhausted. Will the Minister use that power? It is obvious that most animals will be in such a state if they are being hunted. Therefore, there are grounds for prosecution under the Welfare of Animals Act 1972.

Photo of Michelle Gildernew Michelle Gildernew Sinn Féin

The Member is right. We can legislate for animals that are released in an exhausted or mutilated state. It is clear that any decision to introduce legislation to ban hunting with dogs is a matter for the Executive. We are introducing some major pieces of legislation. The legislation should be enforced, and the PSNI has the power to enforce the Welfare of Animals Act 1972.

Photo of Jim Shannon Jim Shannon DUP

I love this question. [Laughter.] Why would the Minister want to introduce legislation that is immoral and unwise? Why would she want to alienate large groups of people in the rural communities? That is what happened when such legislation was introduced across the water. Why would she want to introduce legislation that has not even been able to be arrived at through the courts? Why would she bother introducing the legislation that Brian Wilson wants when she knows that it is unworkable?

Photo of Michelle Gildernew Michelle Gildernew Sinn Féin

I do not want to comment on what the Member says. There is little public appetite for a debate on this matter. However, I would welcome a debate if Brian Wilson chose to bring it to the Floor. I would not be guided in what I do by what Mr Shannon said about alienating people in the rural community; I will be guided by doing the right thing for animal welfare. There is much more in our legislation than was in place in Britain before the ban was introduced.