Ford welcomes Hare kill ban extension but says make it permanent

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 15th Jun 2007

The threatened Irish Hare (courtesy Ulster Wildlife Trust)

Alliance Leader David Ford has welcomed the extension of the ban on Irish Hare killing, which now applies until March 2008; however, he said that the measure must be made permanent as soon as possible. David Ford originally set the ball rolling on the ban, through the amendment he tabled to the Game Preservation Act within the Assembly in 2002.

David Ford said: "I am relieved that this ban has been extended to March 2008; however, constantly renewing this temporary one-year measure is inadequate - we need a permanent ban. Unfortunately it is the best that can be done at the moment.

"I will, however, continue to apply pressure on government to make the protection of the Irish Hare permanent, through the Wildlife Order.

"At some point in the future, the Assembly must decide whether they want to ban this disgraceful practice, and uphold the will of 70% of people in Northern Ireland."