MEDIA OPERATIONAL NOTICE
FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY

24 March 2010

COMMITTEE FOR ENVIRONMENT STATES POSITION ON SNARES AND HARES

The Northern Ireland Assembly Committee for the Environment is holding a meeting at 10.00am on Thursday 24 March in Room 144, Parliament Buildings when it will agree its position on the protection of Irish hares and on the use of snares as part of the Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill.

Background

Hares

Currently the Irish Hare is subject to a Special Protection Order, a temporary protection mechanism that the Department can decide to issue annually in response to population numbers.

The Committee will be deciding if it supports the Department’s position (the status quo) on the Irish hare or if it should be afforded more permanent protection.

Snares

The Committee will be deciding if snare use should be banned outright or subject to a licencing system along with a requirement to check set snares at least every 12 hours. Both these proposals go beyond the Department’s proposals for more moderate modifications to current guidelines and a 24 hour checking period.

Once the Committee agrees its position it will produce a report on the Bill which will conclude Committee Stage.

Details

Venue: Room 144, Parliament Buildings

Date: Thursday 24 March 2010

Time: 10.00am

Further Information

CommitteeDeputy Chair, Cathal Boylan, MLA will be available for interview immediately following the meeting. All interview requests should be arranged in advance with the Northern Ireland Assembly Communications Office.

Media Enquiries to

For media enquiries please contact:

Jennifer Pleavin
Communications Officer
Phone: 028 9052 1606
Mobile : 07502 379339
Email: Jennifer.Pleavin@niassembly.gov.uk

Sinead Murphy
Deputy Communications Officer
Northern Ireland Assembly
Phone: 028 9052 1953
Mobile : 07899 864368
Email: Sinead.Murphy@niassembly.gov.uk