Debate contribution: Hunting with Dogs Bill: Second Stage

Debate contribution by Mr Patsy McGlone on 26 May 2026.

MLA

Mr Patsy McGlone

Party at the time

Social Democratic and Labour Party

Date

26 May 2026

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Hunting with Dogs Bill: Second Stage

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5582937

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I thank the Member for introducing the Bill. Like Ms Murphy, I declare an interest as the holder of a firearm certificate, which I hold for the purposes of sport and some vermin control.

In the debate, we consider that animal welfare is paramount and that it is paramount that we get the legislation on that right. No one wants to see animals torn asunder by dogs. I agree with the spirit of the Bill, as, I am sure, most Members do. I am from and live in a rural area. Many of my friends, neighbours and family are involved in shooting sports as, indeed, am I and others from the area. I have therefore received quite a bit of communication on this. We have to go with the evidence that is in front of us. More recently, I have read in some detail the advice given by the former Attorney General, John Larkin KC. He gave a legal analysis that raised concerns about what may legally constitute, for example, the pursuit of a wild animal, as well as some other matters of concern in the Bill. I have no doubt that there may be those unintended consequences, but they nevertheless require further scrutiny. The British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) has taken legal advice. It has concerns about the implications of "searching for and pursuing" and about the scope of criminal liability, among other things. Mrs Cameron referred to walking dogs. The BASC also raised the issue of that possibly being within scope of criminal law. That is of widespread concern among those who hold firearms for sporting purposes and vermin control. The phrase "using dogs", for those who are not aware, could refer to a group of four or five people who are crossing the fields on their way to Lough Neagh with five or six dogs. Does that constitute a pack, if a rabbit or hare goes across and four or five of the dogs dart after it? That is another issue that will have to be considered as we clarify what the unintended consequences of the Bill might be. I will take it a stage further. There are those who feel that those who engage in shooting sports as their main hobby could accidentally fall within the scope of the Bill, jeopardising their firearm certificates. The only place that that could be tested is in a court of law. Therefore, that must be clarified. I will explain. For example, if a police officer determines that a person is breaking the law — in this instance, that would be this law, as it stands — their firearms are taken. So that people understand this, something goes on their file. When it comes to reconsideration, even if the person is determined not to have been breaking the law, something has gone on their file about whether they may or may not be a fit person, because they have come to the notice of the police. Bear that in mind.

Yes.

I thank the Member for that. We have to work through the practical implications. Even if the case does not go to court — I am sure that the Member, like me, has dealt with multiple cases in which firearms have been scooped — by the time it has been determined that there is no case to answer it may be a year, a year and a half or two years after there has been a perceived incident or an allegation without substance. The other issue that those from rural areas will understand is that firearms may have been inherited and are precious. Those who hold firearms are among the most law-abiding people in Northern Ireland. There is so much detail that requires much more scrutiny under the microscope of the legislative Committee. We have heard the evidence and the legal briefs from the former Attorney General, and we cannot just pooh-pooh that. The evidence given by BASC can also not be ignored. I would welcome the Bill's being allowed to come before the Committee to receive the detailed scrutiny that is required to drill down into the issues and, should it be needed, to get clarity — legislative or otherwise — so that those who have highlighted their concerns will be given the opportunity to present their evidence. For that reason, I support the Bill's moving to Committee Stage.

733 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 15:41 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

Disagree with this assessment?

Classifications can be challenged. A person reads every challenge, and any change is recorded publicly above with its reason.

Challenge this classification