UFU welcomes withdrawal of firearms licensing proposals

The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) has welcomed the decision by the Department of Justice to withdraw the proposed firearms licensing fee increases, which would have seen firearm certificate grant fees rise 153% from £98 to £250, following widespread concern across the rural community and significant lobbying from stakeholders.

The UFU had strongly opposed the proposals, warning that the scale of the increase was disproportionate, poorly justified and failed to recognise the essential role firearms play withing many farm businesses.

UFU Deputy President Glenn Cuddy said, “We welcome the Minister’s decision to withdraw these proposals. The scale of the increase was simply not justified and would have placed unfair additional costs on farmers at a time when they are already under immense pressure.

“For farmers, firearms are not recreational, they are an essential tool used for pest control, livestock protection and day to day land management, delivering a wider public benefit. That distinction was not properly recognised within the consultation.”

The UFU also raised concerns around the evidence used to justify the proposed increases, including the limited data exercise underpinning the cost recovery model and the lack of meaningful assessment of potential rural impact and they acknowledged the work undertaken by the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) throughout the process.

The minister has indicated that a new approach to firearms licensing fees will now be developed in conjunction with stakeholders. The UFU expects agriculture to be fully represented as part of that process, “It is essential that our members voices are heard in future discussions. Farmers are directly affected by firearms licensing policies and any future system must recognise the practical realities of farming and the role firearms play in supporting safe and effective pest control.