Countryside Alliance Ireland - love the countryside

(f) prohibit or restrict the killing, taking, molesting or disturbance of living creatures of any description in the ASSI, the taking, destruction or disturbance of eggs, larvae or other immature stage, of any such creature, the taking of, or interference with, vegetation of any description in the ASSI, or the doing of anything therein which will interfere with the soil or damage any object in the ASSI;

(g) prohibit or restrict the shooting of birds or of birds of any description within such area surrounding or adjoining the ASSI (whether the area be of land or of sea) as is requisite for the protection of the ASSI; 

This amendment could have serious implications to all responsible country sports personnel that are involved in shooting and conservation within Northern Ireland.  If approved this amendment would enable the Northern Ireland Environment Agency to prohibit or restrict shooting of birds etc. 

This is another attack on our shooting community and another attempt to introduce restrictions through the back door without full consultation. Since its publication we have actively lobbied alongside BASC to defeat this proposed amendment. Time is not on our side and with the tabling of this and other amendments at the last minute is a clear indication that this is another attack on our Rural Way of Life and Heritage and a ploy to catch us off guard.

I urge you to contact all MLA’s seeking their support to defeat this amendment.

It is your countryside activity and you need to act now.

Lyall Plant

Chief Executive