John Blair
South Antrim · Alliance Party · Northern Ireland
“It supports the Department's role in enforcement by ensuring that animal welfare standards are being upheld. At their core, the regulations are based on prevention, accountability and transparency.”
“I, like others, rise as a member of the AERA Committee in support of the regulations, which seek to make CCTV mandatory in our slaughterhouses. I do not intend to repeat all of the relevant points that have been covered by the Committee Chair and Committee colleagues.”
“<BR /> <BR />I recognise the work of my colleague the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Andrew Muir, who is using the powers within his remit to help mitigate climate change.”
“I rise as chair of the all-party group on climate action to address the extreme heatwave that is forecast to hit mainland UK, including a rare red weather warning, with temperatures forecast to be as high as 40°C. It is yet another reminder that climate change is not a distant future risk that we can brush under the carpet.”
“They place pressure on our health service, disrupt transport and infrastructure, reduce productivity and threaten food production, water supplies and biodiversity. If such events continue to grow in severity and frequency, the cost to our communities, our local economy and our natural environment will only rise.”
“I thank the member of the Commission for that reply. It is good to hear that those reviews take place, of course. However, further to the information that was presented, will there be an ongoing review of the continuous improvement plan, and will that information be available to Members?”
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“I thank the Member for his intervention. There is clear reference to that in the Bill; I am scanning through it now. I could not have pre-empted the question, so, if I need to come back to that later, I will.”
“I give way to Mr Frew, but I will have to repeat what I just said.”
“It closes loopholes that have caused difficulty elsewhere; aligns Northern Ireland with the direction of travel across the United Kingdom; and responds to clear public demand for change. It is time to stop allowing wild mammals to be chased and killed by packs of dogs in Northern Ireland. Blood sports have no place in a modern, civilised society. I ask Members to support the Second Stage of the Bill in order to consign this —.”
“The Alliance Party has shown that it is prepared to do that. I hope that everyone else in the Chamber will stand with us against this cruel practice. The Bill is ultimately about what kind of society we want to be. It is about whether we believe that it is acceptable in 2026 that packs of hounds should still be used to chase and rip apart wild mammals for sport in Northern Ireland. It is about whether we believe that a practice that has been long rejected in every other region of the United Kingdom should continue here simply because it is a so-called tradition. As I said, I am of the belief that tradition is not a defence for cruelty. <BR /> <BR />The Bill takes a balanced approach, targeting cruelty while preserving legitimate exemptions for lawful land management.”
“<BR /> <BR />Before I conclude, I thank the USPCA, the League against Cruel Sports, the Assembly business and drafting teams and everyone else who has helped me officially and engaged with me to get to this stage. I also thank organisations such as Cats Protection for its express support for my Bill and, of course, my Alliance Party colleagues for their support and never-ending patience with me. <BR /> <BR />We claim to be a nation of animal lovers. We often see it as our duty to stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves.”
“That may include witness testimony, video footage, patterns of organised activity, the conduct of those present and the surrounding circumstances in which dogs are deployed. Enforcement is, therefore, evidence based, ensuring the distinction between accidental incidents and deliberate, organised hunting. It is not aimed at the innocent dog walker whose pet unexpectedly gives chase. It is not aimed at those engaged in lawful shooting activities where dogs are not being used to kill wild mammals deliberately. It is aimed at intentional conduct: planning a hunt; coordinating participants; deploying dogs in pursuit of a wild mammal; and facilitating that activity.”
“Given that it aims to slot into the existing Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985, the Bill amends article 27 of that Order and sets the penalties for the new offences. The penalties are up to 12 months in jail or a £20,000 fine, if dealt with in the Magistrates' Court, and up to five years in jail or an unlimited fine in the Crown Court. Those penalties are in keeping with the Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011. <BR /> <BR />The enforcement provisions laid out under clause 11 also sit within the established wildlife enforcement framework and would rely on existing criminal justice processes, including investigation by the PSNI and the use of evidential material capable of demonstrating deliberate participation in hunting.”
“There may, of course, be some public impact in relation to enforcement by Departments and the PSNI, as is the case with any new criminal offence. When asked, the PSNI was not in a position to provide estimates for any additional resource requirements, and DAERA was similarly unable to provide quantifiable figures. Those are matters that can and should receive further scrutiny during the Bill's later stages, and I am perfectly content to engage on that with Members and others. However, the existence of enforcement considerations is not an argument against legislating where legislation is justified. If it were, very little new law would ever be passed. <BR /> <BR />I turn specifically to penalties and enforcement, as laid out under clause 5.”
“In my experience, when they discover that Northern Ireland is the outlier, horror and strong support for the ban quickly follow. <BR /> <BR />Furthermore, throughout the development of the Bill, there has been extensive engagement with organisations and stakeholders. That engagement included shooting, farming and veterinary organisations, as well as political parties and other interested groups and individuals. The engagement has been constructive, and it has helped to refine the Bill. I am committed — I stress this — to continuing that engagement should the Bill progress today. <BR /> <BR />I will now touch briefly on the financial implications. The Bill itself has no direct, obvious financial effect in the ordinary sense.”
“I thank the Member for the intervention. I do not have the figure on the proportion in front of me. The consultation submission is available on the Assembly website and has been for months. There was a clear influence of an increased number of responses from GB and the South of Ireland in this consultation compared with the previous one, but the core point is that, when it came to those who responded from Northern Ireland, the figure in opposition was 72·27%. <BR /> <BR />The consistency in polling was also mirrored in polling conducted by other leading animal welfare organisations, such as the USPCA and the League against Cruel Sports. Polling also shows that many people in Northern Ireland already assumed that hunting with dogs was illegal here, most likely because bans have existed elsewhere in the UK for so long.”
“That is not just marginal support; it is significant and clearly shows constituents' strong views on hunting across Northern Ireland.”
“Running for 13 weeks between October 2024 and January 2025, it received over 12,000 responses. Just like in my previous consultation, that level of response from the public was far above what is usually seen for a private Member's Bill consultation. That alone demonstrates the level of interest in the matter. As in the previous consultation, the results were undeniably in favour of a ban. A majority of respondents — 63% — said that all hunting, searching, coursing, capturing or killing of wild mammals with dogs should be banned in Northern Ireland. Among respondents who said that they lived in Northern Ireland, 72% supported a ban. In addition, 80% of Northern Ireland respondents said that ending the hunting of wild mammals with dogs was important to them, and 70% said that they fully supported the intentions of the proposed Bill.”
“Farm animals may then be exposed through contaminated land, water or faeces. Those are all facts that the objectors will never raise. <BR /> <BR />Turning to biodiversity and wildlife protection, there is no evidence to suggest that organised hunting aligns with our conservation goals. Indeed, large packs of dogs, riders, vehicles and followers moving across land can disturb wildlife, damage habitats and interfere with ecosystems, including areas used by ground-nesting birds and protected species. Badger setts are already protected in law, yet there have been repeated reports of sett-blocking in areas where hunts take place in order to deny a fox a place of refuge. <BR /> <BR />If you will allow me, Mr Speaker, I turn to the consultation that I conducted on the Bill.”
“In a particular case that occurred at the end of last year, a pet cat was torn apart after hounds entered private land, with a hunt member reportedly attempting to dispose of the body. Sadly, those are not isolated incidents. I have also heard of hounds breaking free and running on to main roads, posing danger both to themselves and to drivers. Such matters underline that hunting with dogs is not some harmless countryside pastime but has consequences for animal welfare, rural residents and public safety. <BR /> <BR />There are also biosecurity concerns that have serious implications for the agriculture sector. Hounds can contract parasites and diseases from raw carcasses, including fallen livestock. With hunts crossing multiple farms in a single day, hounds, vehicles and followers can contribute to the spread of contamination.”
“Nor do I accept the claim that this is simply a town-versus-country issue. Many of those who oppose hunting with dogs live in rural areas. I should know that: I represent one. I regularly hear from farmers, landowners and countryside residents who do not want hunts on or near their land and object most strongly to the impact that hunts can have on their area. Concerns raised include trespass, damaged fields and hedges, livestock being disturbed and roads being blocked. I have heard anecdotal evidence of landowners being too afraid to challenge hunts accessing their land without permission. Members have received correspondence from farmers completely opposed to hunting with dogs on their land, and they will have received some of that in recent days.”
“Significant economic ramifications were not reported in England and Wales after the ban was implemented there, nor have they been widely reported following the strengthening of the legislation in Scotland. Again, as the Burns inquiry stated:”
“Since 2023, no person hunting with guns has been questioned or charged with an offence under the equivalent legislation in Scotland. Equally, no rough shooter has ever been prosecuted in England, Wales or Scotland. <BR /> <BR />A further claim against the Bill is that it will damage the rural economy, yet the fact that some employment or activity is traditional does not mean that it must be preserved unchanged as society moves forward. Economic activity can and does adapt to change, as is the case in every sector. Those involved in hunting can transfer to alternatives, such as drag-hunting, which preserves many of the equestrian, social and ceremonial elements without wild animals being chased and killed. In short, the economy should never be used as cover for cruelty.”
“In relation to what I was saying there, most notably, no prosecution of an ordinary dog walker has been brought in any UK jurisdiction with hunting bans in place over a period of more than 20 years. That argument is simply another distraction. The same scaremongering has been directed towards those who hunt with guns, but if a person is out shooting with a dog, that person is shooting, not hunting with dogs. The offence in the Bill is clear: it is an offence to:”
“I contend that there are other references in the Bill. Look: I am pointing out that the Bill clearly defines that it is about hunting a wild mammal using a dog when the dog is used for the kill. That is the core issue. I will be happy to respond later to speeches on such points.”
“I will now because I am coming to a very important point, Mr Frew.”
“The Bill makes it an offence to hunt a wild mammal using a dog or to be involved in such hunting. Those are active, not passive, acts. They require planning, organisation or deliberate participation. In other words, a person must be proven to have been willingly and knowingly participating in a hunt. Someone who is walking a dog that happens to pick up a scent and run after wildlife is not, thereby, engaged in hunting in the sense that is identified by the Bill. It should be pointed out that the focus is on the conduct of the person, not on an accidental action by the dog. Most notably —.”
“I thank the Member for the intervention and the chance to explain that, apart from the fact that the farmer will often use a gun in such circumstances and is perfectly entitled to do so — that is absolutely understandable — there is an exemption in the Bill for the protection of livestock that allows for the use of up to two dogs. <BR /> <BR />I am calling out the claims that will be made about the Bill. My Bill is not an attack on the rural way of life. It still allows for the tradition of drag hunting and for appropriate wildlife management. It, in no way, impacts on other rural activities, such as shooting and angling. To suggest otherwise is simply false. As I have mentioned, one of the most common myths is that the Bill will criminalise innocent dog walkers. It will not.”
“They will claim that hunting is a way of life — a tradition, indeed. I am not seeking to ban drag hunting, which is a viable alternative. They will claim that the Bill will criminalise innocent dog walkers, ignoring the fact that I have built in provisions to prevent that, which I will come to in a moment. They may also seek to confuse the issue by drawing in forms of shooting to which the Bill simply does not apply.”
“The Bill is aimed only at addressing the killing of wild mammals using dogs. There is no impact on hunting with guns, so long as the dogs that are involved are not actively being used to kill wild mammals. In the case of shooting ducks or pheasants, those are simply not wild mammals — they are birds — so the Bill is not relevant. It is the same when it comes to falconry. That has not been included in my Bill, because birds are an entirely separate species from dogs. <BR /> <BR />Nevertheless, I suspect that there will still be Members here — I am seeing the public commentary — who will rise and try to defend the barbaric practice. They will claim that fox hunting is necessary for pest control despite the Bill's exemptions, which I have just laid out, and the numerous other more humane methods that are available.”
“All that having been said, the Bill, in no way, takes an absolutist approach. It includes a number of exemptions, as laid out in clauses 6 to 10, which allow for up to two dogs to search for, stalk or flush from cover a wild mammal for the purpose of preventing damage to crops, preventing the spread of disease, protecting human health, protecting livestock and protecting biological diversity. There are also provisions for training service dogs, relieving the suffering of injured animals and retrieving dead animals. That shows that the Bill distinguishes between the organised pursuit of a wild mammal for sport and a genuinely necessary controlled activity that is undertaken for a lawful purpose. <BR /> <BR />It is important to be clear about what the Bill does not do.”
“There is no place for that type of activity in a modern society.”
“The advice is general: you do not include in a Bill that which is not covered by the Bill. Therefore, as dog walking is not covered by the Bill, it will not be listed in it. However, I made efforts to have that issue included in the Bill's explanatory and financial memorandum (EFM) just to provide additional information for Members, and I am more than happy to continue conversations about that. <BR /> <BR />Terrier work is another deeply troubling element of hunting. Sending dogs underground to flush out a fox or to make it easier to dig that animal out is cruel, both to the wild mammal and to the dogs involved. Reports of severe injuries to terriers and of makeshift or inadequate treatment afterwards are, unfortunately, all too common. For example, I have heard reports from veterinarians of terriers with their faces stapled together.”
“I thank the Member for the intervention and, of course, for her expressed support. The point raised is, in some ways, a technical one and, in other ways, a very general one. Of course I understand the point about dog walkers. However, it should be pointed out at this juncture that, in 20-plus years of similar legislation in other jurisdictions, there has never been a single prosecution or attempted prosecution of a dog walker, nor has there been a prosecution or attempted prosecution of someone hunting with dogs. I have a feeling that we will come back to this later, but, in direct answer to the intervention, I say this: yes, I am of course happy to look at that. However, for the Member's information, I discussed that with drafters and the Assembly legal team as we went through the process to get to this stage.”
“Northern Ireland should not repeat the mistakes seen elsewhere by leaving obvious loopholes open from the outset. <BR /> <BR />I will give way to Mrs Cameron.”
“That was one of the reasons why hunting with dogs for sport was banned in Great Britain more than two decades ago. The Bill recognises that Northern Ireland should no longer lag behind, but it also seeks to incorporate lessons from other jurisdictions to ensure that the Bill is as robust as possible from the outset. It is for that reason that the Bill also seeks to ban trail hunting and terrier work. <BR /> <BR />It will come as no surprise to Members when I say that trail hunting is used as a smokescreen for illegal hunting. I have said that here before. Scotland banned trail hunting in 2023, and the Labour Government are now working towards fulfilling their manifesto promise by holding a public consultation on banning that practice in England and Wales.”
“I have also heard repeated concerns about the welfare of hounds used by hunting groups, such as reports of malnutrition, and there is filmed evidence of healthy hounds being shot in the head when they are no longer considered useful for hunting. I have also heard that a hound is generally considered past its prime at six years old. On one hand, we are told that those dogs are beloved members of the family, but on the other, we are told that, if the Bill passes, there will somehow be no place for them and that hundreds or thousands of hounds will be euthanised. The inconsistency in those two arguments reveals the wider truth. <BR /> <BR />The Burns report, the GB parliamentary report of the inquiry into hunting with dogs, concluded that it was satisfied that:”
“I have just outlined to the Member some of the most serious animal welfare issues that have been witnessed across the countryside in every county of this region. I will go into more detail later. If Members wish to raise points in their speeches, I will respond as best I can in the time allowed. <BR /> <BR />What I have described is not humane wildlife management. It is not pest control. It is not a tradition worthy of protection. It is cruelty and nothing else. <BR /> <BR />Importantly, a fact that is often overlooked is that the cruelty does not end with the hunted animal. Dogs can suffer significant injury during hunts, particularly when an animal fights back or during terrier work underground.”
“Not at this point. <BR /> <BR />I make no apology because, in the debate, we need to confront the facts about the cruelty involved and be truthful about what the practice of hunting with dogs truly entails. A wild mammal, such as a fox, is pursued over a long distance by a pack of dogs to the point of exhaustion. If caught, it will be torn apart by the hounds. If it manages to escape, it may still be left severely injured, traumatised and bleeding to death. In some cases, if it goes to ground, terriers are sent underground after the animal to flush it out, further prolonging its suffering. <BR /> <BR />I give way to Mr Buckley.”
“This Bill reflects changes that were made after engagement, consultation and further consideration, but what has not changed is the fact at the heart of the debate, which is that hunting wild mammals with dogs is cruel and unnecessary and a ban is long overdue. The Bill also differs from previous proposals in that it has been drafted to fit within the existing legal framework established by the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985. That means that, rather than creating an entirely separate framework, the proposal is grounded in established wildlife protection law. <BR /> <BR />At its core, this is a matter of animal welfare. I am about to paint a graphic picture for Members, and I make no apology for doing so.”
“Neither I nor my party, Alliance, has ever been anything other than honest about our intention to ban the cruel practice of hunting wild mammals with dogs in the circumstances in which Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK not to have already done so. The terms of the Bill have been tried and tested in the rest of the UK. The only people who need to worry about it are those who enjoy the cruelty of encouraging dogs to chase a wild mammal for the kill. I am all too aware of the use of diversions and distractions from the core issue before us, which is animal cruelty, pure and simple. <BR /> <BR />I introduced legislation on the issue in the previous mandate.”
“I am grateful for the opportunity to open the Second Stage debate on my Hunting with Dogs Bill. As Members will be aware, the purpose of the Bill is to end the practice of hunting wild mammals with dogs for sport in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland is the only part of the United Kingdom without such a ban. England and Wales banned hunting with dogs more than 20 years ago, while Scotland not only introduced a ban but strengthened its legislation through the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Act 2023, which created the most robust framework anywhere in the UK. <BR /> <BR />In Northern Ireland, however, mammals can still be chased until they are exhausted and then attacked and killed by packs of dogs for sport.”
“The Minister will be aware that, through the special circumstances, known as SORPI, for Northern Ireland Water, the public purse pays a public body to pollute, it pays a government agency to investigate the pollution and then it pays the penalty, if one is issued. Will the Minister provide an update on his efforts to remove those exceptional circumstances for Northern Ireland Water?”
“I thank the Minister for that reply. Will he tell us the likely consequences for our public services if he fails to reach agreement with the Treasury and secure Executive approval for a draft Budget, and will he tell us the timeline and deadline for all that?”
“Farmers, policymakers, veterinarians and all others involved must work together to deliver an eradication strategy that is credible and science-led and is capable of reducing disease, protecting livelihoods and improving outcomes for public health, animal welfare and environmental sustainability. We are therefore happy to support the motion and the amendment.”
“That includes strengthening biosecurity, improving cattle controls where necessary, supporting farmer awareness and addressing wildlife intervention in a way that is effective, responsible and informed by the best available evidence. For Alliance, any response must also be mindful of animal welfare and ethical standards. We must avoid making false choices between protecting cattle, supporting farmers and safeguarding wildlife. A serious strategy should be capable of doing all three. <BR /> <BR />The Alliance Party supports the need for urgent and effective action on bovine TB. The intent and sentiment behind the motion and the amendment are therefore entirely understandable. The common enemy is bovine TB.”
“That emphasises how no single solution can address the issue. The Department is also progressing a bovine TB eradication transformation programme that supports the blueprint's implementation and the broader strategic effort to control the disease. Those steps are welcome, as is the recognition that the issue requires partnership working across government, industry and science. The additional all-island focus, including support through the Shared Island initiative, is also important, given the cross-border nature of disease risk and the benefits of cooperation on research, surveillance and eradication measures. <BR /> <BR />Those plans and programmes must now be matched by decisive delivery. If we are serious about eradication, we need action that is science-led, evidence-based and proportionate.”
“Behind every statistic is a farmer who is dealing with uncertainty, stress and financial loss. In many cases, they are seeing animals that they have bred and cared for being removed from their herd. Even for those not currently facing a breakdown, the constant fear of one arriving at the doorstep takes a real psychological toll. <BR /> <BR />That is why it is important that action move towards a more structured and evidence-based approach, and that is exactly what the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs has undertaken since taking office. The publication of the TB Partnership Steering Group's blueprint for eradication is a significant development that has already been welcomed in the Chamber today. The blueprint is based on three core pillars: people, cattle and wildlife.”
“I thank those who have moved the motion and the amendment. I will address the motion in my capacity as a member of the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, but I am also mindful of my role as chair of the all-party group on animal welfare in the Assembly. <BR /> <BR />The statistics, some of which are in the text of the motion, continue to speak for themselves. Bovine TB remains at an unacceptably high level in Northern Ireland. As Members have said, it is not solely a cattle issue; it affects the rural economy, food security, the resilience of agri-food supply chains and the welfare of livestock and wildlife. It also has a profound impact on farmers' mental health and well-being, as well as that of their families. For farming families, we know that the issue is deeply personal.”
“I beg to introduce the Hunting with Dogs Bill [NIA Bill 33/22-27], which is a Bill to prohibit hunting wild mammals with dogs; to prohibit trail hunting; to prohibit terrier work; and to set out exemptions from these prohibitions.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Alliance Party welcomes the regulations, and I am hopeful that we will finally start to see the urgency, cooperation and political will that the issue demands.”
“It is not something that is widely recognised, endorsed or embraced by the developed and developing economies that are trying to seize the opportunities presented by greener environmental outcomes and better economic outcomes closely related to them. There was almost a suggestion from the person who spoke for the DUP that there should not be sectoral involvement in these conversations. That is absolutely staggering. It is to some of us unthinkable that the sectors so heavily dependent on movement on climate and economic opportunities should not be at the table shaping and participating in the conversations around how we move forward. An example of that is the Ulster Farmers' Union, which is supportive of the establishment of the commission, and many other sectoral representative bodies are also supportive of it.”
“Progress on its establishment should never have been held up. My frustration is only deepened by the fact that the delay comes on top of the delay already caused by the stop-start nature of government in this place. Climate change and its effects do not pause when our institutions pause. <BR /> <BR />At its heart, a just transition is about making sure that the path to net zero is one that carries public confidence and support. That is essential if we are to achieve the scale of change required in the years ahead and to meet our climate targets. In that regard, I refer to some of the comments made just a moment ago by the DUP spokesperson. We hear all this Trumpian denial on a weekly basis.”
“<BR /> <BR />I want also to acknowledge the engagement that took place during the consultation process, some of it hosted by external organisations. It is welcome that there is strong support for the commission's establishment and for its role as an advisory body, bringing together voices from a wide range of sectors. That matters because, if a just transition is to mean anything in practice, it must be shaped by those who will be most affected by it. <BR /> <BR />I cannot speak to the regulations today without expressing my disappointment at the delay in getting them, and many other matters linked to the environment, through the Northern Ireland Executive. The commission is not an optional extra; it is a key commitment that flows directly from climate legislation passed in the Chamber.”
“In other words, it is about helping to ensure that, as we move towards decarbonisation and net zero, we do so in a way that is fair, balanced and inclusive and that protects the most vulnerable from change by creating new opportunities, particularly when it comes to building a greener, more sustainable economy. <BR /> <BR />Before I go further, I place on record my thanks to the Minister and his officials for all the hard work that they have put into developing the regulations and for all the queries that they answered, whether to Members individually, to Committees or to other structures along the way as this progressed. Establishing a body of this nature requires significant preparation, consultation and engagement, and it is clear that a considerable effort has been made to get us to this point.”
“I am pleased to support the Climate Change (Just Transition Commission) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026. They are an important and necessary step in delivering on the commitments set out in the Climate Change Act. It has just been made clear that some of us will see those in different terms, but I will come to that before I close. <BR /> <BR />In brief, the establishment of the just transition commission for Northern Ireland will play an important advisory role in overseeing and informing how we implement the just transition provisions for the climate legislation that was agreed unanimously in the House.”