AQW 1195/22-27

Mr John Blair
Alliance Party
South Antrim

Tabled Date: 09/06/2022
Answered On Date: 06/07/2022
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs what plans he has to bring forward legislative proposals to ban the use of snares.

Answer:

I have no immediate plans to reform the legislation on the use of snares. 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 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.