Northern Ireland Assembly Flax Flower Logo

GAME PRESERVATION (AMENDMENT) BILL

[As Introduced]

Contents

  1. Close seasons

  2. Shooting of rabbits on agricultural land

  3. Orders under the 1928 Act

  4. Short title and commencement

A
B I L L
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Amend the Game Preservation Act (Northern Ireland) 1928. BE IT ENACTED by being passed by the Northern Ireland Assembly and assented to by Her Majesty as follows:

Close seasons 1.— (1) The Game Preservation Act (Northern Ireland) 1928 (c.25) (referred to in this Act as "the 1928 Act") shall be amended as follows.(2) In section 7 (1) (periods during which it is unlawful to take, kill or destroy game)— (a) after paragraph (b) there shall be inserted— "(bb) any partridge or snipe during the period commencing on 1st February in any year and ending with 31st August next following;"; and(b) in paragraph (c) for "game-bird other than a grouse" there shall be substituted "other game-bird".(3) In section 7 for subsection (3) (power to vary certain periods) there shall be substituted— "(3) The Minister of the Environment (in this Act referred to as "the Minister") may by order— (a) amend subsection (1) so as to vary the close season in relation to any kind of game; or(b) amend subsection (2) so as to vary the period referred to in that subsection.".(4) In section 7F(2) (temporary nature of orders of the Minister) after "under this Act" there shall be inserted "(except one made under section 7(3))".

Shooting of rabbits on agricultural land 2. In section 7A of the 1928 Act (prohibition on shooting of rabbits at certain times not to apply to shooting of rabbits on agricultural land by an occupier of that land or by any person resident with or employed by him) for " resident with or employed" there shall be substituted "authorised".

Orders under the 1928 Act 3. In section 7F of the 1928 Act for subsection (4) (orders under that Act to be published) there shall be substituted— "(4) Orders made by the Minister under this Act shall be subject to negative resolution.".

Short title and commencement 4.— (1) This Act may be cited as the Game Preservation (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2001.(2) Sections 1 and 2 shall come into operation on such day or days as the Department of the Environment may by order appoint.