Before voting in today's Northern Ireland local elections, check out our guide to candidates and where they stand on animal cruelty issues - https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2023/01/17/northern-ireland-local-elections-2023-candidates-and-animal-cruelty-issues
Please vote for animal-friendly candidates and reject those who support cruelty. Polling stations remain open until 10pm.
Scroll down for more information on the stances of political parties.
Alliance Party
The Alliance Party is in favour of a ban on hunting wild animals with dogs and a ban on the use of snares. In its 2023 election manifesto, the party states: “Alliance has always prioritised animal welfare and sought to tackle cruelty against animals. People engaged in animal cruelty are not only a danger to the animals involved, but potentially to society as a whole. We believe councils have a vital role to play in animal welfare. We want to see: • Councils using silent fireworks in council sponsored displays and raising awareness of the animal welfare risks around fireworks. • A zero-tolerance approach to illegal puppy breeding and increased enforcement in this regard. • Reduced use of unnecessary dog euthanasia in council kennelling facilities through better partnerships with third sector shelters and sanctuaries to rehome unwanted dogs. • A robust inspection regime for registered dog breeding facilities to ensure the highest possible welfare standards.” https://assets.nationbuilder.com/allianceparty/pages/8904/attachments/original/1683190797/LGmanifesto23online.pdf#page=15
DUP
In the Northern Ireland Assembly in December 2021, the DUP allowed a free vote on John Blair MLA’s “Hunting of Wild Mammals Bill” which aimed to outlaw all forms of hunting wild animals with dogs. 19 DUP MLAs voted AGAINST the bill and 6 voted in favour. The bill was narrowly defeated with 38 MLAs voting in favour and 45 voting against.
In February 2022, 6 DUP Councillors abstained in a vote on a motion which stated: “This Council notes the widespread support across Derry City and Strabane District 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 Northern Ireland Assembly. Furthermore, this Council 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.” https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2022/03/04/derry-city-and-strabane-councillors-pass-motion-calling-for-end-to-animal-cruelty/
Green Party Northern Ireland
The Green Party Northern Ireland’s Animal Welfare Policy states:
The Green Party NI will:
Prohibit the hunting of wild mammals with dogs, prohibit trail hunting and terrier work and work to end all other bloodsports. We will ban the sale, possession and use of snares.
Extend the ban on live animal exports in Great Britain to Northern Ireland.
Introduce tighter regulations on animal transport, including a maximum limit of eight hours travelling before a mandatory rest of at least one hour.
Introduce mandatory CCTV in slaughterhouses.
Increase welfare standards for farmed animals.
Introduce Lucy’s Law to Northern Ireland and update in line with the Justice for Reggie campaign.
Uphold the principles of the Welfare of Animals Act.
Prohibit the import and export of all fur.
Oppose any attempt to introduce a badger cull.
https://www.greenpartyni.org/animal_welfare
People Before Profit
People Before Profit’s animal welfare policies include: Introduce a complete ban on the hunting of wild mammals with hounds, Ban the sale of fur within Ireland, End badger culling by traps, snares and shooting and Increase financial support for animal welfare charities https://www.pbp.ie/policies/animal-welfare-policy/
Sinn Fein
Sinn Fein is NOT in favour of a ban on hunting with hounds. Despite a 2020 statement from party president Mary Lou McDonald TD that “Sinn Fein is opposed to foxhunting” and would “vote in favour of a ban at the next opportunity”, the party’s MLAs voted AGAINST a proposed ban on hunting with hounds in the Northern Ireland Assembly in December 2021. In 2022, at meetings of Belfast City Council and Derry City and Strabane District Council, Sinn Fein Councillors also voted against motions calling for a ban on the hunting of wild mammals with dogs.
SDLP
SDLP is in favour of a ban on hunting with dogs. In the Northern Ireland Assembly in December 2021, SDLP voted in favour of John Blair MLA’s “Hunting of Wild Mammals Bill” which aimed to outlaw all forms of hunting wild animals with dogs.
The party is also pushing for the establishment of an All Island Animal Cruelty Register https://www.sdlp.ie/crueltyregister
Traditional Unionist Voice
In the Northern Ireland Assembly in December 2021, TUV (Jim Allister MLA) voted against John Blair MLA’s “Hunting of Wild Mammals Bill” which aimed to outlaw all forms of hunting wild animals with dogs.
UUP
In the Northern Ireland Assembly in December 2021, UUP voted in favour of John Blair MLA’s “Hunting of Wild Mammals Bill” which aimed to outlaw all forms of hunting wild animals with dogs.
In February 2022, 2 UUP Councillors voted in favour of a motion which stated: “This Council notes the widespread support across Derry City and Strabane District 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 Northern Ireland Assembly. Furthermore, this Council 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.” 1 UUP Councillor abstained in the vote. https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2022/03/04/derry-city-and-strabane-councillors-pass-motion-calling-for-end-to-animal-cruelty/