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You'd think Margaret Ritchie had enough on her hands trying to get the UDA to disarm and trying to provide people with affordable homes. But, as Social Development Minister, she also has to worry about issuing licences to people who want to kill or deal in game. Apparently about 1200 people hold licences at a cost of £4 each. That might have been fairly expensive when the licences were introduced back in the 1960s. But, given inflation, it now costs more to collect the fees than the department makes from the scheme. Moreover there are thought to be around 12,000 game shooters out there - so the licences are not exactly doing their jobs.

What to do about the poachers and the gamekeepers will be discussed tomorrow by the Social Development Committee. I suspect Ms Ritchie will continue to concentrate on a different kind of gun altogether.

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