Latest News
Latest News
- January 9th, 2023
- Latest News
Ferret hunter sought for Rathlin island in £4.5m RSPB Cull
In what must be one of the most unusual job adverts seen here in Northern Ireland, a bird protection charity RSPB is seeking a ferret hunter for Rathlin island off the north coast. The role of the new island resident, who will be employed for up to five years, will…
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- January 5th, 2023
- Latest News
Changes to NI General Licenses
After consideration of the consultation responses, a summary of which can be found here and available bird population data, DAERA have now issued interim amended licences for January and February 2023 while stakeholder engagement concludes. The new licenses can be found here https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/articles/wildlife-licensing The main changes are as follows: Herring…
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- December 1st, 2022
- Latest News Shooting
Illegal to possess lead shot within 100m of a wetland in 2023
On Thursday 3rd September 2020 the EU Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Committee approved a proposal to ban lead shot over wetlands, within 2 years. This proposal was then ratified by the EU Council making the proposal an EU law. Once ratified, the regulation came into force…
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- November 15th, 2022
- Latest News
RSPB must not use raptor persecution reporting as a political tool to attack rural communities
Countryside Alliance Ireland has warned the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RPSB), not to use its annual report of incidents of illegal raptor killings as a ‘political tool to attack rural communities unjustly’. In Northern Ireland, one incident was confirmed in 2021, when the total for the whole…
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- October 27th, 2022
- Latest News
Minister to highlight economic impact of NI firearms licensing crisis
Agriculture and Rural Affairs Minister Edwin Poots MLA has agreed to support organisations challenging the poor performance of the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s (PSNI) Firearms and Explosive Branch (FEB). Minister Poots gave his backing during a meeting with the Northern Ireland Firearms Representative Group (NIFRG), which represents nine national…
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- October 18th, 2022
- Latest News
The Countryside Alliance has welcomed an urgent extension to general licences in Northern Ireland
The Countryside Alliance has welcomed an urgent extension to general licences in Northern Ireland , but are concerned that they are valid only until 31st December 2022. The emergency decision taken by DAERA to update the general licences came after the rural organisation sounded the alarm, when as of midnight…
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- October 17th, 2022
- Latest News
Countryside Alliance responds to DAERA revoking three general licences
General Licences are due to be expire/revoked by Department Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Affairs (DAERA) as of midnight tonight (17 October 2022) unless last minute intervention takes place. This will put thousands of people at risk of unknowingly breaking the law whilst controlling species such as pigeons and carrion crows…
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- October 6th, 2022
- Latest News
BBC Spotlight Hard Hitting or Misleading
BBC Spotlight brought us the programme “Exposed: Hunting with Dogs” on Tuesday 4th October. From the outset the programme clearly did not hide it was driving its own agenda. Whilst making the programme they did not consult Countryside Alliance Ireland nor any other sister organisation, therefore producing an extremely one…
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- September 27th, 2022
- Latest News
When will the Minister make a decision?
Following the legal challenge from Wild Justice and after a public consultation earlier this year for taking pest birds, DEARA took the decision, on the 9th September, to extend the interim General Licenses until 17th October 2022. This decision to extend the current temporary General Licenses, CAI understands, is to…
Continue Reading - September 9th, 2022
- Latest News
Temperary General Licenses extended
Following the full public consultation earlier this year for taking pest birds brought about by the legal challenge from Wild Justice. DEARA have now taken the decision to extend the interim General Licenses until October 2022 This decision to extend the current temporary General License CAI understand is to allow…
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