Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

567. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the decision of the Dutch Government to ban mink farming in view of recent studies that showed an increasing rate of Covid-19 infection amongst mink at Dutch fur farms and the discovery that the animals may have transmitted the virus to farm employees; if he has examined Irish mink farms in response to these findings; his plans to review the operation of those farms accordingly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14470/20]

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has written to mink farms in Ireland to provide information on SARS-CoV-2 infection in mink and to advise on the precautions that should be taken to prevent their mink being exposed to the virus. This advice includes strict adherence to the HSE public health guidelines on COVID 19.

It is most important to recognise that COVID-19 is predominantly a disease of humans. It is our understanding that the Department of Health is not aware of any human cases of COVID-19 associated on mink farms.The experience to date during the global pandemic is that while certain animal species, including dogs, cats, ferrets and mink, are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 virus, the number of positive cases in animals worldwide remains very low. DAFM has composed a Frequently Asked Questions document for animal owners in line with current public health advice which is available to view at .

The Programme for Government 2020 contains a clear commitment regarding the prohibition of fur farming and Department officials are currently preparing the appropriate draft heads of a Bill to facilitate the achievement of this objective with a view to seeking Government authority at an early date.