Of promises and action

In the news item Ornis Proposal Ruffles Feathers In Brussels (July 10), the last sentence, "The government has not yet taken a stand on whether or not to accept the Ornis recommendation", is indeed the most interesting part.

The government has already taken its stand when, prior to the referendum vote, it promised to retain trapping even after accession. Spring trapping was also promised to remain after accession but has since been stopped by the same government that promised it. Notwithstanding these promises, the government negotiated a transition period for trapping of seven species of finches.

So we have a government that promises to retain something then at the same time negotiates its expiry. We also have the same government that promises spring hunting and, when faced with a legal problem, which it guaranteed would not happen, decides to await a court judgment rather than implement what it promised. With the result that spring hunting was suspended.

Personally, and to practically all hunters and trappers, whether the government decides to take a stand or not on this issue is immaterial because if indeed it does take a stand it is very likely that this stand would be nothing more than another exercise in deceit. Unless, of course, the government decides to take a stand and remain standing or to admit that it was fooled by its "trusted" negotiator into believing it could guarantee the continuance of hunting and trapping as practised before EU accession.

It's a matter of regaining credibility. Unfortunately, the fear of "ruffling feathers" locally seems to be the reason for government failing to do so.