In a move to disappoint Northern Ireland’s rural community, MLAs at Stormont voted through the second stage of John Blair’s Hunting with Dogs Bill on on 26 May 2026.

They ignored stark warnings from NI’s former Attorney General that the legislation would be devastating for rural communities in the run-up second reading.

The Countryside Alliance Ireland’s Gary McCartney says: “It was patently obvious during the debate that many MLAs supporting this bill hadn’t taken the time to understand it. This is a shockingly poor way to legislate. The people of Northern Ireland deserve better.”

Steven McGonigal from pro-hunting group NOISE admitted that it had been a disappointing day for country people in Northern Ireland, but says he he expects the bill will not pass the scrutiny of the committee stage, because it puts thousands of dog owners across Northern Ireland at risk of prosecution.