Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

In fur farms, mink are kept in cages and away from what would be considered their natural environment. Given that they are ferocious hunters, they are kept within strictly secure premises. The first law related to mink in Ireland was aimed at keeping them out of Ireland and to have regulations attached to any that might be here.

Public opinion is very firmly against fur farming and the fur industry. That is reflected in the fact that none of the major retailers in Ireland stocks fur products. When fur is identified in stores by campaigners, it is usually swiftly removed by retailers. Fur is produced here for the export market.

Fur farming is already illegal in Britain, the North and a range of countries across Europe. The Bill amends the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 to clarify that fur farming would be illegal here. The Act prohibits farming that is not in line with an animal's nature, type, species and breed, development, adaptation, domestication, psychological and behavioural needs. However, the Minister continues to issue fur farming licences. This Bill will give legal clarity on the need to ban fur farming.

To address the history of this issue in the Dáil, fur farming was to be wound down following a Government decision in 2009. Unfortunately, in 2011 the Labour Party-Fine Gael Government reversed that decision. While we would welcome a decision by the Minister not to renew licences and to issue regulations on this matter, I believe law is needed to prevent future Ministers reversing any such decision. People are aware that Fine Gael and the Labour Party voted for the 2005 Bill to ban fur farming before reversing their position in a later decision.

I have no doubt an argument will be made about jobs. The work on fur farms is seasonal and generally done by people who do not live here and travel in and out of the country. This is an idea whose time has come. Solidarity proposed a ban on circus animals and the Government acted swiftly in advance of that Bill being debated in the Dáil to regulate in that area. I appeal to Members of the Dáil of all parties to support the Bill. I also appeal to people who care about the issue to campaign vociferously and to ask Deputies and Senators to support the Bill. Under capitalism, the cruel treatment of animals can be highly profitable but any measures to stop cruel practices can challenge the profits of an industry. I have no doubt the fur farming industry will retaliate. It is, therefore, important that people lobby their public representatives to support this Bill.

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