Victor Boyhan (Independent)

I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this important Commencement matter. I thank the Minister of State for coming here to address this. In essence, I have asked for the Minister to make a statement on mink farms in Ireland, now closed, and to confirm the status and compensation agreed with the affected operators and if there are any outstanding matters in relation to same.

The Minister of State will be aware that the Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 provided for the statutory prohibition of fur farming along with a compensation scheme. I wish to be clear; I fully supported the legislation. I acted proactively and robustly on behalf of the three owners because I recognised that they had a valid business regardless of my views on animal welfare in relation to mink farming, which I do not support, but I support the fact that they had legitimate legal enterprises within this State. The State took a decision in conjunction with stakeholders, conscious of European directions in relation to this matter and conscious to a whole of range issues. It was decided that the remaining fur farms would close, but at the commencement of that would be a package of compensation for the employees and farm enterprises. That would be the replacement of alternative agri-related uses for these farms.

In January 2023, the then Minister for agriculture, Deputy Charlie McConalogue, signed the legislative order which saw the closure of fur farms in counties Kerry, Donegal and Laois. Over €2 million compensation has already been given to existing farm owners. My concern relates to one in County Laois. There are extenuating circumstances around it. I do not want to get into the naming of it because that is not relevant. What is relevant is that there was an agreement entered into with fur farmers to close them down. They have complied with that, they have humanely destroyed any breeding stocks they had, and I understand there is now no legal fur farming in Ireland. Therefore, the issue is the outstanding issue of the payment. The legislation made provision for the payment of this compensation based on the income loss, non-income, cost for the dereliction and the cost of providing alternative enterprise because we are talking about people's livelihoods. What is the plan? What is the scheme of things? What is the timeframe?

I looked this morning at the Veterinary Ireland policy document on fur farming. It made a strong case. It sets out the European model and the concerns about animal welfare. It made absolute sense. I acknowledge that very significant document from 2018. There is no dispute. Fur farming is banned in Ireland. Most of the compensation has been paid out, but there are a few outstanding issues. I hope we can get some sort of pathway and timeline to resolve those outstanding issues so we can say in the next few weeks and months that, once and for all, the complete package is that fur farming is banned, the farmers and the people involved in this enterprise have been fully compensated, the workers who were involved in this have been compensated or a relevant financial position put in place for them and we can progress. This is about honour and commitment to what we agreed when we signed up and supported this legislation.