Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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273. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if fur farming will be ended fully after the culling of minks which has been announced. [38946/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Programme for Government 2020 contains a clear commitment regarding the prohibition of fur farming and officials from my Department are currently engaged in advancing the necessary legislative and related preparatory work to facilitate the achievement of this objective, and will be seeking Government authority at an early date.

Officials from my Department have also been in discussions with those who will be affected.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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274. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if any remaining mink in Ireland will be culled as a safety measure against the spread of Covid-19; if he is introducing measures to keep the associated fur farms closed thereby ending fur farming in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38964/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Programme for Government 2020 contains a clear commitment regarding the prohibition of fur farming and officials from my Department are currently advancing legal and other preparatory steps necessary to facilitate the achievement of this objective, with a view to seeking Government authority at an early date.

The Chief Veterinary Officer within my Department received a communication from the Chief Medical Officer last week indicating that the continued farming of mink represents an ongoing risk of additional mink-adapted SARS-CoV-2 variants emerging and recommending that farmed mink in Ireland should be culled to minimise or eliminate this risk.

Officials in my Department continue to engage with the mink farmers to consider the next steps.