Agenda item

            In accordance with notice on the agenda, Councillor McReynolds proposed:

“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.”

The motion was seconded by Councillor McAllister.

Amendment

            Moved by Councillor Garrett,

Seconded by Councillor Beattie,

      That the motion standing in the name of Councillor McReynolds and seconded by Councillor McAllister be amended as follows:

            To delete the wording from:

"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.”

            And replace it with the following:

“believes that the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) is best placed to bring forward proposals with regards to the regulation of hunting in consultation with rural communities; and agrees to write to DAERA encouraging them to consider a public consultation on the regulation of hunting in the next mandate.”

The motion, as amended, therefore reads:

“This Council notes the widespread support across Belfast for the ending of animal cruelty and the improvement of animal welfare and believes that the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) is best placed to bring forward proposals with regards to the regulation of hunting in consultation with rural communities; and agrees to write to DAERA encouraging them to consider a public consultation on the regulation of hunting in the next mandate.”

            The Council agreed to vote on the amended motion, on a recorded vote, twenty-one Members voted for the amendment, twenty-nine against and with three no votes it was declared lost.

            The original motion was put to the meeting, on a recorded vote, twenty-nine Members voted for the amendment, eighteen against and with seven no votes it was declared carried.