Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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361. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason he chose not to proceed with a ban on fur farming as was initiated by the previous Government. [11611/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I established a Review Group in November 2011 to examine all aspects of fur farming in Ireland. The Terms of Reference of the Review Group were:

(i) To review fur farming in Ireland taking into account existing legislative provisions for the licensing of mink farming

(ii) To comment on the economic benefits of the sector

(iii) To consider the effectiveness of existing welfare controls, and

(iv) To make appropriate recommendations

The Review Group invited submissions from the public and interested parties and considered over four hundred submissions which were received.

The Group concluded that it did not find the arguments in favour of banning the farming of fur animals in Ireland compelling and recommended that instead, fur farming be allowed continue under licence and subject to official control.

On foot of the Review Group's deliberations, my Department has introduced more rigorous controls on licence holders in the areas of animal welfare, animal accommodation, security and nutrient management. Licensees are subject to regular inspections, including unannounced inspections by Department officials. There are currently a total of three operators in Ireland licensed to keep mink.