A bill banning fur farming in Ireland is due to be signed into law by president Michael D. Higgins in the coming weeks. The Green Party has said it passed its final stage in the Seanad on 29 March, 2022.
Pippa Hackett, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, was said she was delighted to see the passing of the bill. “Banning fur farming is a vital step in the protection of animal welfare and puts us in line with similar legislation being implemented across Europe.”
She added that, “no welfare standards or inspection regimes can prevent welfare problems being encountered regularly on fur farms”.
The Green Party counted three active farms in Ireland that breed and rear mink for the purpose of pelting for the fur industry. Going forward, farms engaged in these practices will be shut down. It was noted that the bill does include a scheme compensating mink farmers for their losses.
Pauline O’Reilly, Senator and Green Party spokesperson, was also happy at the outcome. “The ban on fur farming is one of a number of key policies which would help to protect animals in Ireland and improve their treatment in a tangible way,” she commented.
Minister Hackett concluded, saying that the party had campaigned on this issue for years, and she believed that the passing of the bill has the support of most of the public.”