Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 367: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the new Animal Welfare Bill will be published; if it is proposed in the context of this legislation to ban fur farming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17647/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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A good deal of work has already been undertaken and significant progress has been made on drafting the new Animal Health and Welfare Bill and I intend, very shortly, to initiate a process of public consultation by publishing a consultation paper and inviting submissions from interested parties and other stakeholders.

The Bill will be a comprehensive piece of legislation which will, inter alia, give effect to a number of important commitments, in the area of animal health and welfare, contained in the Programme for Government. The Bill will amend and consolidate previous legislation to reflect the changed disease status of our nation's animals and update existing legislation, to ensure that the welfare of all animals (including non-farm animals) is properly protected and that penalties for offenders are increased significantly as well as replacing and repealing a long list of outdated legislation.

Drafting of the Bill will continue after the consultation process, having regard to the various submissions received.

Licensed fur farms are inspected to assess compliance with the Council of Europe recommendations concerning fur animals and Council Directive 98/58/EC concerning the protection of animals kept for farming purposes. These inspections have, to date, found that licensed fur farms have been operating in compliance with current national and EU legislation. In this regard fur farming is a legitimate farming activity, which is permitted in the greater majority of EU Member States. It is intended that the forthcoming legislation will provide for the continuation of normal farming, sporting and other activities where these do not involve reckless endangerment of the welfare of animals.