Northern Ireland wildlife law review – latest update

7 February 2011

The Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill is the most comprehensive review of game and wildlife law in Northern Ireland since 1985.  Protectionists have failed in their attempts to use this review to attack shooting. BASC will continue to use its expertise and political influence to avert threats and exploit opportunities as the final content of the Bill takes shape.

Read the sections below to find out what has happened and what is ahead.

Latest news

On 7th February the Northern Ireland Assembly considered a series of proposed amendments to the Bill.  One of these amendments, if accepted, would have removed the Irish hare from the quarry list.  This amendment was rejected.  During earlier debates on this issue BASC provided advice and evidence supporting the retention of the Irish hare on the quarry list.  BASC is thankful for the support of those MLAs that voted against this amendment.

What has happened so far?

A Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill was first introduced to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2009, following discussions with a wide range of stakeholders over a two year review period.  The Bill represented the first complete review of game and wildlife law in Northern Ireland since 1985. The sections below provide a summary of the key topics that have arisen so far.

Game licences to be abolished and red grouse to stay on quarry list

In the lead up to the introduction of the Bill there were calls by protectionists for the removal of curlew, red grouse and Irish hare from the quarry list. There were also calls by animal rights groups for a ban on snares. Common sense prevailed and the Bill that was introduced did not contain the above proposals.  Moreover, the Bill proposed to scrap the game licence, the game dealer’s licence and the restrictions on selling lawfully taken game out of season.

Snares, curlew and golden plover under threat

Following its introduction to the Assembly the Bill was then scrutinised by the Committee for the Environment, which heard evidence on various topics from stakeholders, including BASC. The open seasons for deer, the quarry status of curlew, golden plover, Irish hare and the use of snares all came under scrutiny. 
On 23 March 2010 the committee voted for the Bill to be amended to ban snares and to take curlew and golden plover off the quarry list.   It was recommended that the open season for does and hinds be extended to 31 March and that roe deer and Chinese water deer be added to a list of invasive non-native species that people could not release in Northern Ireland.

Decisions on snares, deer management, curlew, golden plover and ASSIs

Following the committee’s recommendations a new period of lobbying began, and many amendments to the Bill were submitted ahead of the ‘Consideration Stage’ of the Bill. At ‘Consideration Stage’, on 22 June 2010, the Northern Ireland Assembly decided that the curlew should be removed from the quarry list, but that golden plover should remain. The Assembly decided not to ban the use of snares.  The opens seasons for does and hinds were extended to 31 March and the recommendations on roe deer and Chinese water deer also written into the Bill. An amendment relating to the use of smaller calibres of rifles for muntjac and Chinese water deer was also included in the Bill.  

The above topics were expected to be the main shooting related discussions in the day’s debate, but that was not the case.  The high profile topic of the day arose from an amendment submitted at the last minute. The amendment contained a proposal which would have granted the Department of the Environment powers to prohibit or restrict shooting in, surrounding or adjoining hundreds of designated sites (ASSIs) across the Province.  At short notice BASC led a campaign to alert MLAs to the ill-considered proposals. As a result the Assembly deferred a decision on the amendment, and in September the amendment was withdrawn.

Decision on Irish hare

Since June many new amendments have been submitted ahead of the ‘Further Consideration Stage’ of the debate.  Fifteen of these amendments made it through the vetting process and were debated by the Assembly on 7th February 2011.
Of key interest to BASC was an amendment that would have removed the Irish hare from the quarry list. Common sense prevailed, and this amendment was rejected.

Click here to view a recording of the Further Consideration Stage debate

Click here for a transcript of the Further Consideration Stage debate

What happens next?

There will be one more debate on the content of the Bill. This is the ‘Final Stage’. Ahead of that debate there will be a further series of amendments submitted for consideration. A date for the ‘Final Stage’ is not yet timetabled but it is expected to take place in a matter of weeks. This debate will decide the final content of the Bill and there can be no further changes afterwards. Once the Bill receives ‘Royal Assent’ it becomes an Act. Notice will be given of when the laws in that Act come into force.  BASC will provide a briefing outlining the key changes in law of interest to shooters in Northern Ireland.

Click here for an overview of the legislative process to date and ahead 

 

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