AQW 23503/17-22

Miss Rachel Woods
Green Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 30/09/2021
Answered On Date: 28/10/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs whether he intends to bring forward legislation to ban the sale, manufacture and use of snares in Northern Ireland.

Answer:

I have no immediate plans to reform the legislation to ban the sale, manufacture and use of restraints in Northern Ireland.

I understand that, although not widespread, there is still a need to retain snares to control pest species in the countryside. For example, some landowners use them to reduce the impact of foxes on endangered species such as ground nesting birds also on new born lambs during the lambing season. Gamekeepers also use them periodically to reduce the destruction of game birds by foxes at certain times of the year.