Countryside Alliance Ireland - love the countryside

Elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly take place on 5 May 2011. 

Countryside Alliance Ireland has sent all election candidates a copy of our Election Manifesto which outlines our vision for the future of Northern’s Ireland countryside and the part which elected representatives can play. From recent events, all of us involved in country sports know how important it is to ensure our government and representatives are both sympathetic and understanding of the rural way of life. 

We, the general public, control who enters government. It is therefore vital to ensure that we are aware of our local candidates’ views on country sports and rural practises. There are some simple steps that country sports enthusiasts can take to help protect the future of our rural traditions; Ask all candidates to pledge that they support all field sports and that they will vote against legislation that harms or hinders these activities.When contacting candidates, reiterate the vitally important role that field sports play in society and the economic and environmental contribution they make.  

We must ensure that our political representatives are left in no doubt as to the strength of feeling in respect of threats to country sports and rural activities.  Politicians deal in the commodity of numbers, therefore we need to stand united and demonstrate that those who support country sports and rural activities are a much bigger group than those who oppose it.