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An opinion poll has shown that two-thirds of the electorate in Northern Ireland would be "much less likely" or "somewhat less likely" to vote for election candidates who support hunting animals with dogs.

The 2019 survey carried out by Survation on behalf of the League Against Cruel Sports Northern Ireland asked: “If a candidate standing in your local constituency during a general election supported hunting live animals using dogs, would this make you more or less likely to vote for them?”

The results were:

Much less likely: 52.8%
Somewhat less likely: 14.3%
Much more likely: 2.7%
Somewhat more likely: 4.3%
Neither more nor less likely: 18.8%
Don't know: 7.1%

More than 70% of those surveyed also said that they would be less likely to vote for a party which supported hunting.

They were asked “If a political party supported hunting live animals using dogs, would this make you more or less likely to vote for them?”

The results were:

Much less likely: 56.4%
Somewhat less likely: 14.5%
Much more likely: 2.6%
Somewhat more likely: 3.4%
Neither more nor less likely: 18.2%
Don't know: 4.9%

The survey has been brought to the attention of Sinn Fein which, in December, voted against legislation which aimed to ban hunting with hounds. 24 of its candidates in the upcoming Assembly election rejected a ban - see below for list of names.

During a debate on John Blair MLA’s “Hunting of Wild Mammals Bill”, the Sinn Fein agriculture spokesperson Declan McAleer (West Tyrone) made it clear that he and the party are against a ban. He stated: “Sinn Féin do not agree with a ban on hunting” https://youtube.com/watch?v=LPFnFbgfBSw&t=807s The party’s vote against a ban came despite an earlier assurance from Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald TD that her party is “opposed to foxhunting” and would “vote in favour of a ban at the next opportunity”.

The DUP has also been urged to take note of the survey results. Seventeen of its election candidates voted against a ban on hunting, with just three voting in favour of a ban.

The Survation poll found that the vast majority of people in Northern Ireland are in favour of a ban on hunting animals with dogs.

Deer hunting with dogs:
84% said deer hunting with dogs should be made illegal, with just 8% saying it should remain legal. (Don’t know: 8%)

Fox hunting with dogs
76% said fox hunting with dogs should be made illegal, with just 15% saying it should remain legal. (Don’t know: 9%)

Hare hunting with dogs
76% said hare hunting with dogs should be made illegal, with just 12% saying it should remain legal. (Don’t know: 12%)

Rabbit hunting with dogs
74% said rabbit hunting with dogs should be made illegal, with just 15% saying it should remain legal. (Don’t know: 11%)

Sinn Fein election candidates who voted against a ban on hunting with dogs

Caoimhe Archibald (East Londonderry)
Cathal Boylan (Newry and Armagh)
Nicola Brogan (West Tyrone)
Pádraig Delargy (Foyle)
Linda Dillon (Mid Ulster)
Jemma Dolan (Fermanagh and South Tyrone)
Sinéad Ennis (South Down)
Ciara Ferguson (Foyle)
Órlaithí Flynn (Belfast West)
Colm Gildernew (Fermanagh and South Tyrone)
Deirdre Hargey (Belfast South)
Declan Kearney (South Antrim)
Gerry Kelly (Belfast North)
Liz Kimmins (Newry and Armagh)
Philip McGuigan (North Antrim)
Maolíosa McHugh (West Tyrone)
Áine Murphy (Fermanagh and South Tyrone)
Conor Murphy (Newry and Armagh)
Carál Ní Chuilín (Belfast North)
John O’Dowd (Upper Bann)
Michelle O’Neill (Mid Ulster)
Aisling Reilly (Belfast West)
Pat Sheehan (Belfast West)
Emma Sheerin (Mid Ulster)

Another Sinn Fein candidate who is against a ban on hunting is Cllr Daniel Baker. At a meeting of Belfast City Council in January 2022, he voted against a successful motion which called for a ban on the hunting of wild mammals with dogs. The motion stated: “This Council notes the widespread support across Belfast for the ending of animal cruelty and the improvement of animal welfare; expresses disappointment at the lack of legislative progression on banning the hunting of mammals with dogs in the Northern Ireland Assembly; reaffirms our support for ending this barbaric practice; and agrees to write to DAERA and the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Affairs to show our support for ending the practice of hunting for mammals with dogs.”

DUP Assembly election candidates who voted against a ban on hunting with dogs

Maurice Bradley (East Londonderry)
Keith Buchanan (Mid Ulster)
Thomas Buchanan (West Tyrone)
Jonathan Buckley (Upper Bann)
Trevor Clarke (South Antrim)
Diane Dodds (Upper Bann)
Stephen Dunne (North Down)
Paul Frew (North Antrim)
Paul Givan MLA (Lagan Valley)
Harry Harvey (Strangford)
David Hilditch (East Antrim)
William Irwin (Newry and Armagh)
Gordon Lyons (East Antrim)
Michelle McIlveen (Strangford)
Gary Middleton (Foyle)
Edwin Poots (Belfast South)
Mervyn Storey (North Antrim)

DUP Assembly election candidates who voted in favour of a ban

Joanne Bunting
Pam Cameron
Peter Weir

ACTION ALERT

In the Northern Ireland Assembly election on 5th May 2022, vote for animal-friendly candidates and reject those who support animal cruelty. Find out more about the views of candidates at https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2022/02/10/ae22/

Contact Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald TD and ask why, despite an assurance that her party is “opposed to foxhunting” and would “vote in favour of a ban at the next opportunity”, Sinn Fein MLAs refused to back a ban.

Mary Lou McDonald TD
President, Sinn Fein
Tel: (01) 727 7102
Email: marylou.mcdonald@oireachtas.ie
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaryLouMcDonald
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MaryLouMcDonaldTD

Sinn Féin Head Office
44 Cearnóg Pharnell
Dublin 1, Ireland
Phone: 01 8726100
Email: admin@sinnfein.ie

Urge the DUP to back a ban on hunting with hounds.

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP
Leader, DUP
Tel: 028 9266 8001
Email jeffreydonaldsonmp@laganvalley.net
Twitter @J_Donaldson_MP
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/jeffrey.donaldson1/

DUP Headquarters
Tel: 028 9047 1155
Email: info@mydup.com

SEE ALSO

The Sinn Fein Assembly election candidates who voted AGAINST hunting ban
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2022/03/31/the-sinn-fein-assembly-candidates-who-voted-against-hunting-ban/

The DUP Assembly candidates who voted AGAINST hunting ban
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2022/04/02/the-dup-assembly-candidates-who-voted-against-hunting-ban/