Debate contribution: Hunting with Dogs Bill: Second Stage

Debate contribution by Mr John Blair on 26 May 2026.

MLA: Mr John Blair
Party at the time: Alliance Party
Date: 26 May 2026
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Private Members' Business
Heading: Hunting with Dogs Bill: Second Stage
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5583027

Text

Will the Member accept from me — I hope, in the right spirit — that my explanation at the start of the debate of hunting a wild mammal using one or more dogs is really quite self-explanatory? It is using one or more dogs to hunt, catch and kill a wild mammal. That is completely different from using a gun to hunt the wild mammal. That is the difference. That is why guns are not included. The intended offence is to:
"hunt a wild mammal using one or more dogs".
That really is self-explanatory. The Member is asking for things to be included that are not included, which is, frankly — I say it respectfully — preposterous, but this —
I am explaining it to you. The Bill explains it clearly. Will you accept that?

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

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