Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the various Deputies for their contributions and constructive support for the Bill. This is the first of a number of stages of bringing it through the Oireachtas. I look forward to constructive engagement on Committee Stage and considering amendments, further assessment and interrogation of various aspects of the Bill to make sure it is robust and fully scrutinised as it goes through the Oireachtas. That is only right.

It is important to re-emphasise that all three of the farms in the State are complying with all the regulations and always have done. They have run very good operations according to the rules, requirements and laws of the State. For many of these farmers, this is something they have been doing for generations. Significantly, they were encouraged to start out doing this back in the 1960s with support as a new enterprise and a new innovative industry at that time. However, life moves on, society moves on and people's perception of what is acceptable from a farming and animal welfare point of view changes. That is very much the situation here. This will have a real-life impact for the three families concerned and it is important to point out that it is not a reflection on the businesses they built up over the years. It is a reflection of how society has overtaken the practice of farming animals for their fur, coats or pelts. It is important, as we finalise this and step forward once the legislation is in place, that there is appropriate recognition of that from a financial point of view, in terms of the impact on the three farmers affected. The Bill provides for that. I look forward to further engagement and thank the Deputies for their contributions and support for the objectives of the Bill.

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