Countryside Alliance Ireland - love the countryside

The Criminal Justice ( Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 is due to be commenced in early July 2009 and will facilitate the enactment of the remaining sections of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 thereby introducing the three year firearms licence.  This new legislation will make provision for the transition phase during which time all current licences, which are due to expire on 31 July 2009 will be extended.  The extensions will be from a minimum of 3 months up to a maximum of 12 months; i.e. until at least 1 November 2009 up to the latest 31 July 2010. 

A meeting took place between Mr. Lyall Plant, Chief Executive, Countryside Alliance Ireland, Mr. D.J. Histon, Chief Executive/ Secretary, ICC, and Mr. Martin Ferris, Sinn Fein at Leinster House on Thursday, May 21.

The following update was issued by Sinn Fein:

1. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr. Dermot Ahern, T.D., has published the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous) Provisions Bill 2009 which imposes a handgun ban and much tougher penalties for individuals found in possession of knives.
   
   The Minister said the new Bill will significantly overhaul the licensing of firearms:
   1.  No new licenses will be issued for handguns with very limited exceptions in relation to Olympic sports only
   2.  Any existing handgun licenses will be subject to the new rigorous licensing procedures where their renewal is sought.
   3.  A new year three year licensing system for firearms.

This new more rigorous system, which will be introduced in August, will allow Superintendents to enquire into the medical history of applicants, provide for character referees for applicants and introduce minimum standards for secure accommodation of firearms. The Garda Commissioner will be able to issue guidelines governing the issue of licenses.

The Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009 has now been published. The full bill and associated explanatory memo may be downloaded by clicking on the following links

Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009

Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009  explanatory memo 

Countryside Alliance Ireland would like to offer our members discounted ticket prices for the Ballinlough Castle Game Fair.  Simply please contact your nearest office to obtain tickets.

 Ballinlough Cast Game Fair

• Adult €12.50 saving of €2.50

• Under 5's are Free

• Family Ticket €35 saving of €3.00 (2 Adults and up to 3 children under the age of 16)

Applications for discounted tickets for Ballinlough Castle must be recieved at our office by the 9th July 2009 

Shooting is a Recognised Activity under Countryside Alliance Ireland members insurance package and beating and picking up, as an intrinsic part of shooting, are also deemed Recognised Activities and therefore included in our members insurance package.

As millions of anglers renew their rod licence for the 2009 season, Countryside Alliance has prepared a useful health and safety risk assessment guide to help fisheries protect themselves.   

A court ruling in April 2008 saw seven saboteurs acquitted of aggravated trespass because the shoot in question did not have a written health and safety policy. Following this finding the Alliance prepared a useful guide to help shoots with this side of their business, and has now extended this advice to fisheries.

Coillte Teoranta, The Irish Forestry Board, currently invite tenders for licences to hunt Game and Deer on areas of their forest estate.