Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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378. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has ordered the closure of the three remaining fur farms here in the interests of public health in view of a mutated strain of Covid-19 which can spread from mink to humans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35928/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is in the process of preparing a Bill to provide for the phased introduction of a ban on fur farming which will include a prohibition on mink farming.

The Bill will make it illegal for any new fur farms to be established and will put in place phase out arrangements for the small number of current operators. The Programme for Government 2020 contains a commitment regarding the prohibition of fur farming and Department officials have been working on appropriate steps to give effect to this.

Following the outbreak of a new form of Covid 19 in mink in Denmark and the possibility of the mutation moving from mink to humans, my Department has initiated testing of animals on the three mink farms. Public safety is our main concern and as the results of testing become available we will work with our colleagues in the HSE to progress this matter.