Birdlife expected the spring hunting season to be suspended with the first sign of illegalities.

Spokesman Mark Sultana told a news conference this afternoon he was quite confident that the season would be closed if illegalities occurred.

“We have seen this in the past but now society is expecting this from the government,” he said.

Mr Sultana, a main spokesman of the Spring Hunting Out campaign, said Birdlife work in terms of raptor camps and reports on the spring hunting season would continue.

Asked whether the current enforcement was enough, Mr Sultana said the people have shown that they expected a lot when it came to ensuring that illegalities were kept to a minimum.

He said he did not agree with the Prime Minister’s comments that only a small number of hunters did not observe the law. He said he was in the countryside and saw that a large number of illegalities take place.

He was also asked how much the No campaign cost and he said this did not cost thousands but the accounts would be published shortly.

Asked about the determining factors in the referendum, Mr Sultana said there had been an element of both fear and solidarity from those who voted Yes.