Patrick Nulty (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 715: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will restate his commitment to ban fur farming; if the matter will be dealt with in the forthcoming Animal Health and Welfare Bill; if he will provide an update on the work of the departmental review group; when the review will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41256/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I established a Review Group in my Department last November 2011 to review all aspects relating to fur farming. The Terms of Reference of the Group are as follows:

1. To review fur farming in Ireland taking into account existing legislative provisions for the licensing of mink farming

2. To comment on the economic benefits of the sector

3. To consider the effectiveness of existing welfare controls, and

4. To make appropriate recommendations

Submissions were invited on the review with a closing date for receipt of submissions of 31st December 2011. Submissions received are now being examined by the Review Group. I will await the outcome of the Review Group's findings before considering what action, if any, to take in the matter.