Bid to ban hunting in Northern Ireland relaunched
A bid to ban hunting in Northern Ireland has been relaunched.
Alliance MLA John Blair is behind a Private Member's Bill which has been backed by the League Against Cruel Sports and the USPCA.
The charities said Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK where it is still legal to hunt mammals for sport.
In 2021 the Northern Ireland Assembly voted by 45 votes to 38 to reject a proposed Bill to ban hunting wild animals with dogs in Northern Ireland.
Mr Blair said: "It is truly shocking we are in 2024 and still have no ban on hunting wild mammals with dogs, despite Alliance's previous attempts to do so.
"We came incredibly close to seeing this legislation become a reality a few years ago, with it only falling because Sinn Fein as a party and a number of DUP votes individually worked together to kill it.
"I am hoping this time round we can give a voice to the majority of people who remain opposed to hunting wild mammals with dogs and show Northern Ireland does not condone it whatsoever. It is crucial this is not allowed to fail again.
"This consultation gives people an opportunity to make those voices heard and put on record their views in order to send a clear message.
"Animal welfare is a high priority for Alliance, and I encourage everyone to participate so we can bring our legislation into line with the rest of the UK and outlaw this barbaric practice once and for all."
USPCA chief executive Nora Smith said the charity's polling has indicated that "over 70% of people across all age groups and all parts of Northern Ireland want this terrible form of animal cruelty to end".
"Since the launch of our campaign we have taken our message to ban hunting with dogs to politicians and the public," she said.
"Our online petition has received over 6,500 signatures and is growing daily.
"We would like to thank John for his continued support to bring about this ban and look forward to continuing our engagement with the MLAs and the public over the coming months."
Robbie Marsland, from the League Against Cruel Sports, said: "Chasing and killing mammals with dogs has no place in today's society. We are asking everyone to tell their local politicians to support this Bill and let them know that the cruel and wanton killing of wild animals must end.
"Most people we speak to think that hunting with dogs is already illegal in Northern Ireland - now's the time to make that a reality.
"We've had really encouraging conversations with many MLAs, political parties and members of the public, and we are optimistic that there will be a majority in support of the Bill when it comes before the Assembly."
However, Countryside Alliance Ireland criticised Mr Blair's Bill as "completely out of touch".
Gary McCartney, director of Countryside Alliance Ireland, said: "John Blair's obsession with hunting is completely out of touch with the priorities of the people of Northern Ireland.
"There are a million more important issues affecting people's lives and his decision to waste more of Stormont's time on this issue says a lot about both him and his party.
"More than that, his consultation is a farce which completely misrepresents hunting in Northern Ireland and legislation in other parts of the UK.
"If he wants a fight over the ability of farmers to protect their livestock and conservationists to protect threatened species he will get one and he will lose again."