Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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241. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will commit to his Department engaging in dialogue with a farmer (details supplied) over concerns regarding the imminent ban on their farming activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32306/21]

Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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242. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason his Department is proposing an immediate ban on fur farming rather than the phased-out approach committed to in the current Programme for Government; if his attention has been drawn to the dire financial consequences this will create for such farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32307/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 241 and 242 together.

The current Programme for Government contains a commitment to prohibit fur farming in Ireland and Department officials have been working on appropriate steps to give effect to this. A series of meetings with the fur farm operators and their representatives have been held in this regard. There has also been ongoing correspondence and dialogue between the two parties.

Draft legislation is currently being prepared by the Department and contains provisions for appropriate compensation under various income loss headings for the small number of operators affected. The Department has taken into account the views expressed by the operators and their advisers with whom it has been engaging in recent months, in preparing the legislation. The details of the legislation, and the proposed compensation scheme will be presented before the Oireachtas in due course.

Whilst COVID-19 brought about a renewed focus on fur farming, the primary reason for its prohibition is animal welfare related. While fur farming was once legal and socially acceptable in most countries, societal understanding of animal welfare has developed significantly and there is now a broad consensus among veterinary and other scientific experts that certain animals should not be farmed solely for their fur or skin.