Countryside Alliance Ireland - love the countryside

Our vision is of a vital, working and thriving countryside for the benefit of the whole nation.
We work for everyone who loves the countryside and the rural way of life. Through campaigning, lobbying, publicity and education we influence legislation and public policy that impacts on the countryside, rural people and their activities.

One of the key benefits of Countryside Alliance Ireland membership is the insurance cover provided within the membership subscription. The insurance package provides Personal Accident cover and Employers’, Public and Products Liability cover for eligible members whilst participating in a range of specific country pursuits that are defined as Recognised Activities. Join us

RISE! Rural Ireland Says Enough! Is campaigning at national, regional and local level to mobilise public and political opinion in support of our traditional field sports and rural pastimes. Our supporting organisations represent more than 300,000 people involved in country sports. Right now, there are three immediate threats to rural sports:

Under the terms of the EU Birds Directive, all EU member States, including Ireland, are bound to take measures to protect all wild birds and their habitats. The Directive allows member States to make derogations from its protective measures where certain wild bird species covered by the declaration are causing damage to crops, livestock and fauna or represent a threat to public health or to air safety. The declarations, which are attached, renew the derogations for the period January to April 2010 and exclude the use of meat baits for the purposes of the control of certain wild bird pest species by means of poison which was introduced with effect from 1st January, 2008.

 The Minister has signed 4 declarations for the 4 month period January to April 2010 for the provinces of Connaught, Leinster, Munster and the administrative counties of Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal.    A separate countrywide derogation is issued in respect of air safety.

Declaration regarding Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan (pdf, 629 kb)

Declaration regarding Leinster (pdf, 623 kb)

Declaration regarding Munster (pdf, 626 kb)

Declaration regarding Connaught (pdf, 618 kb)

Declaration regarding species representing a threat to air safety (pdf, 216 kb)

The recent Second Reading of the draft Wildlife Bill for NI revealed that there is considerable support from MLA's of a variety of political persuasions for putting the Irish Hare under complete protection in NI.  This is despite the fact that in the 2008 Public Consultation (Review of the Wildlife Order) out of 37 respondents commenting on the issue only 6 supported this option.  

If Irish Hares were put under the Schedule of species offered protection at all times (known in the current Act as Schedule 5), it would become an offence intentionally to kill, injure, or take, possess, or trade in any wild animal listed in the Schedule, however, more significantly, it would also prohibit interference with places used for shelter or protection, or intentionally disturbing animals occupying such places.