6 Counties in Ireland

[Bryan 1,362]

Northern Ireland bans hare coursing, and fox hunting could be next

Thursday, 24 June 2010

 

The Assembly has voted to ban hare coursing in Northern Ireland. A motion to outlaw the use of greyhounds to chase and kill Irish hares was passed by 23 to 18 this week and has been incorporated into the Wildlife and Natural Environment (NI) Bill.

 

It is expected to come into force after the summer.

 

It follows a series of temporary bans by successive Environment Ministers on taking hares.

 

Assembly Members will also be considering a Private Members Bill introduced by the Green Party aimed at banning fox hunting. Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK where hunting foxes with dogs remains legal.

 

Amendments were tabled and debated on Tuesday as the Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill had its first reading.

 

The Bill introduces jail sentences for persistent wildlife criminals as well as larger fines. Added investigation and enforcement powers have been given to the police to tackle wildlife crime.

 

Public bodies will now have a new duty to 'conserve biodiversity' so that all work done by public bodies will need to take the effects on wildlife into account.

 

New offences have been introduced for reckless damage or disturbance to protected birds, animals and their habitats, including those in Areas of Special Scientific Interest.

 

It's already illegal to cut hedges during the breeding season but this new rule will mean there is no need to prove that damage was intentional, just reckless. The Bill also gives new protection to the nests of certain birds whose nests are used year after year, including birds of prey such as red kite, barn owl and peregrine as well as the golden eagle, osprey and white-tailed eagle. The RSPB welcomed the new measures, but said it was disappointed that more bird species can now be kept in captivity to be shown at competitions. It promised to work with the Department of the Environment to make sure this does not lead to illegal trapping of birds to supply the trade.

 

"All in all it has been a good result for nature," RSPB conservation manager Anne-Marie McDevitt said.

 

"We campaigned hard to ensure these changes took place, including petitioning for stronger protection for birds of prey."

 

The Bill is expected to go through its second reading in the autumn.

 

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland-bans-hare-coursing-and-fox-hunting-could-be-next-14852888.html

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[conor.k 2]

:wallbash:f**k them and f**k ther ban

[Fat-Ferret 857]

Its only the start...They are trying to put the Irish Hare on the Permanent protection list, ban snaring and fox hunting...The coursing bill was debated in Stormont on Tuesday 22nd and they voted a Ban 23 to 18.

 

The Green Party as well as the League against cruel sports are doing everything they can to push all this nonsense through. The Irish Hare protection will be reviewed again in the Autumn. If it is successful the Hare will be a protected species, this will not only effect Lurcher folks, but effectively shut down Northern Irelands Beagle packs.

 

I posted a thread about this some months ago before it all took place, along with templates of letters to sign and forward to Edwin Poots, Environment Minister from the Green Party. Despite the mass of letters, phone calls and lobbying they received, it didnt work and I believe its only a matter of time before the rest of sport goes the same way if we dont stand up against this nonsense.

[wetdogsmell 99]

green party wanckers

[Bryan 1,362]

I think there'll be a bit of creative thinking by hunters up there to get around this, the greens in the republic are also making big pushes at the moment, they are pushing through a ban on stag hunting with hounds tomorrow and also bringing in a bill that anyone with more than 4 bitches will be open to inspections and mandatory chipping of all dogs.

B

[hogie 103]

i couldn't give a f**k wat they do about hunting hares im more worried about a ban on killing foxes a ban will never work over here

[iceman001979 1,316]

its been along time coming anything happens in england hits us few years late.

cant believe some people on here saying they could not give f**k about hare courseing just foxs its time like this all as that hunt need stick together.l can till you this been hunting over 15years and the ban wont be stopping me

[ciaranmcman 23]

sorry to hear this

how can they justify making the hare a protected species? hope you have better luck fighting it than the rest of the u.k

blan your a :wankerzo4: thers no need for shite like that on a hunting forum

[hogie 103]

its been along time coming anything happens in england hits us few years late.

cant believe some people on here saying they could not give f**k about hare courseing just foxs its time like this all as that hunt need stick together.l can till you this been hunting over 15years and the ban wont be stopping me

hunting hares just isn't wat im into plus my dogs couldn't catch 1 i'd probably feel different about it if i had coursing dogs

[Fat-Ferret 857]

Regardless of what your into, everybody needs to pull together and stop it.