Volume 11, Issue 3 December 2011
Countryside Alliance Ireland
Emerald News INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
A Message from Lyall Plant
Ban on Lead Shot - RoI 2
possible and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our staff for the excellent work they have done in serving you our members.
Draft Dogs Regulations 2 New Chairman for CAI
2
Liz Moore’s Top Tips
3
Greyhound Act 2011
3
Coursing Festival
4
IRGA Conference
4
As 2011 ends we must look back on another successful year for Countryside Alliance Ireland.
Over the past year we have worked tirelessly to ensure that our members obtain the best service
Are you interested in becoming a member of the Countryside Alliance Ireland (CAI) Board?
You will all be pleased to hear that the Board of CAI has again decided not to raise membership fees for the coming year. Indeed, this is the fourth year without any increase and demonstrates that
We have supported many activities throughout the year and with your support we will continue to do so. If you are holding an event we will gladly let our members know. It just leaves me now to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Lyall Plant Chief Executive
Countryside Alliance Ireland Board Elections 2012
There have been a number of country sports issues arising in both jurisdictions and we have proactively responded to these issues on our members behalf.
we continue to obtain value for money in all our transactions and that your subscriptions are spent wisely.
Would you like to play your part in shaping the future work of CAI? Any fully paid up member of CAI over the age of 18 is entitled to stand for election; whether you live in Northern Ireland or the
Republic of Ireland you can stand for election.
are two vacancies to be filled.
We would encourage any member who feels they can contribute to the work of the organisation to consider standing for election to the Board.
For further information and nomination forms, please telephone:
Nomination forms for candidates must be returned by midnight on 7th March 2012 and there
We look forward hearing from you.
NI: 028 9263 9911 or RoI: 01690 3610, option 5. to
Em e ra ld New s
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Consultation to Ban Lead Shot in Wetlands “If you are in any doubt about the performance of lead substitutes or the impact on your shotgun, it is recommended that you consult your firearms dealer, its maker or importer”
A consultation on banning the use of lead shot in the Republic of Ireland for hunting in wetlands closes on the 21st December 2012. Mr Jimmy Deenihan T.D., Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, invited submissions on a process to end the use of lead shot for hunting in wetlands, to
be in line with Ireland’s international obligations. We will be responding to the consultation taking into account the responses received from our membership following our call for their views. We are all aware that we need to protect our water birds from ingestion of
lead shot and we fully recognise that this is a proactive measure. Northern Ireland presently has a workable solution whereby all lead shot is banned on any wetland and it is up to the individual to follow published guidelines as to whether the area is a wetland or not.
Consultation on Draft Dogs (Licensing and Identification) Regulations The Dogs (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 brought forward a number of changes to the 1983 Order such as control conditions, fees, attacks on persons, livestock and other animals.
Therefore the Order now includes powers to require compulsory microchipping
of dogs held under an individual dog licence and powers to make regulations to specify microchipping of other dogs. These Draft Regulations take this agreed policy forward and include a power to require all dogs held under block licence to be microchipped.
The Draft Regulations sets out the technical requirements of the microchip to be applied to dogs and specifies the record keeping in respect of individual block licence holders. The consultation ends on 7th February 2012 and we would welcome your comments by 13th January 2012.
New Chairman for Countryside Alliance Ireland Countryside Alliance Ireland is delighted to announce that Dr Peter Bacon (pictured left) has been appointed as the new chairman of CAI. Peter has taken over from Mr Paul Cran following completion of his three year tenure. However,
Paul remains an active member of the Board maintaining the position of Deputy Chairman for the coming year.
be valuable to CAI. Peter has a long tradition of participation in country sports especially shooting and conservation.
Peter brings to the position years of experience in dealing with complex situations and believes that his skills will
He has also spent a decade riding to hounds and in recent years has returned to fishing.
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E me ra ld New s
Liz Moore’s Top 10 Tips for cooking with game 1. Hang wood pigeon for 1-2 days and if freezing, freeze well wrapped, in the feather for best results. 2. Keep your fingers dry to avoid the feathers sticking to you. Stay outside if the weather's good. 3. Keep your eye out for shot! Always serve game filleted or sliced to avoid your guests complaining about broken crowns! 4. Sear the outside of game before cooking gently in the oven. Due to low levels of fat, the meat can become dry when subjected to too much heat for too long. 5. Remember that certain game will change its characteristics if over cooked. For example
pigeon and venison can become stronger tasting and may develop a "livery" flavour. 6. Pheasant, like any meat will continue to cook whilst resting out of the oven. Allow for this in your cooking times. 7. Avoid marinating everything you see. Heavy flavours such as red wine will mask the delicate quality of snipe and woodcock. Pineapple juice is particularly good for tenderising. Stick to delicate, enhancing flavours of olive or rapeseed oil, a little garlic and star anise. 8. Add a knob of butter half way through cooking time for pan frying venison steaks and duck breasts.
It will enhance the flavour and prevent the delicate meat from drying out. 9. Keep all the carcasses and bones for your base sauces and gravies. If you don't have time to roast and then poach them on the day, put into a freezer container and use for another day. 10. If your game gravy or jus is a bit of a letdown, add a couple of tsp. of raspberry or red wine vinegar just before serving. It will pep it up at once. For more information on Belle Isle Estate and for availability of cookery courses at the cookery school go to www.belle-isle.com
Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011 The Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Shane McEntee TD, has announced the passage into law of the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011. The President Michael D Higgins signed the Act into law on 16th November 2011. It was the first piece of legislation
signed by him since he took up office on 11th November. The new Act puts in place a comprehensive set of regulations together with appropriate sanctions to ensure nothing but the very best levels of welfare for our greyhounds exist in Ireland. The
legislation
also
provides a sound legal basis for welfare inspections to be carried out at all premises where registered greyhounds are kept. The Act also gives a wide range of powers to welfare officers and empowers them to issue welfare notices to premise owners outlining improvements where these are required.
“Pineapple juice is particularly good for tenderising.”
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Countryside Alliance Ireland
Em e ra l d New s
Clonmel National Coursing Festival
Republic of Ireland Courtlough Shooting Grounds Courtlough Balbriggan County Dublin Northern Ireland The Courtyard Larchfield Estate Balliesmills Road Lisburn County Down BT27 6XJ
Phone Republic of Ireland 01 690 3610 Northern Ireland 028 9263 9911 Fax Northern Ireland 028 9263 9922 Republic of Ireland 048 9263 9911
DJ Histon CEO ICC
The Irish Coursing Club would like to take this opportunity to invite you all to the National Coursing Festival that will take place at Powerstown Park, Clonmel, County Tipperary on Monday 30th January to Wednesday 1st February 2012.
Coursing enthusiasts who are expected from other parts of Europe, the USA, Australia and the Middle East to make their annual pilgrimage for this prestigious event.
Stakes the length and breadth of the country in an attempt to qualify them for the National Coursing Meeting and the dream of every coursing enthusiast is to have a runner at the National Meeting in Clonmel. For further information regarding the National Coursing Festival contact Eugene Cooney at the Sporting Press by email eugene@sportingpress.ie or by calling +353 (0) 52 618 8510. We look forward to seeing you there.
From late September to early January, owners and trainers run their greyhounds in Trial
Irish Red Grouse Conference a Great Success
E-mail info@caireland.org
The Conference was officially opened by MEP Marian Harkin.
Love the Countryside
We’re on the Web!
caireland.org
This is a special and unique three day sporting occasion in Ireland’s sporting calendar and even in the current economic climate we are confident that the coursing festival will once again bring thousands of visitors to Clonmel from all over Ireland and the UK.
Marian Harkin MEP opening the conference
The Irish Red Grouse Association’s Conference, held in County Westmeath on Saturday 29 October, was a great success.
Delegates attended from all over Ireland and the keynote speakers were instrumental in helping to further the Association’s aim of working for the future of red grouse. The Conference was a very significant and positive move for the
IRGA, the Committee and indeed the country sports community because it sends out a strong and positive message about the conservation and environmental benefits of country sports. If you would like more information on the work of the Association you can contact Vincent Flannelly on +353 (0) 87 612 2568.