Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

This is something we are anxious to see done. It is a programme for Government commitment that I want delivered. There are clearly animal welfare issues involved. Even if they are well kept, we know what end is in store for these animals. There is also an escape issue and mink, for example, are a non-native animal that wreak havoc among our native wildlife if they escape from farms. I acknowledge there is a just transition issue around structuring the exit of people who are currently fur farming from the industry. They were told for a long time that what they were doing was absolutely okay. The Government has now decided to move in a different direction. I fully accept that we must have a timeline for those in the industry to help them structure their way out of the business. That said, this was a commitment in the programme for Government. It is something I and the Green Party want delivered as soon as possible.

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