Fur farming will soon be phased out across Ireland if a new Cabinet proposal gets approval.
The news comes as Ireland faces increasing pressure to ban fur farms and follow in the footsteps of the 14 other EU countries that have already done so.
The majority of Irish farms are based in Donegal, Offaly and Kerry, employing a total of around 100 people.
Agriculture Minister Michael Creed is set to bring the proposal forward to Government later this week in order to get approval to begin drafting laws, and it’s expected to be “positively received”.
Plans have so far been slow to move along as the government is aware of the legal implications of closing down the industry and how it might affect the workers’ rights.
TD and anti-fur campaigner Ruth Coppinger called fur farming “cruel, backward and barbaric” in the Dáil last week, according to the Irish Examiner.
I've just written to Minister for Agriculture asking to meet to discuss the ban on fur farming. I think he should support our Bill, & bring forward amendments he thinks needed. Our Bill offers an opportunity to move next week on a ban #furfreeireland #banfurfarming #dubw pic.twitter.com/FdZiPYAJhy
— Ruth Coppinger (@RuthCoppingerSP) June 24, 2019
She added, “As solitary, wild, and semi-aquatic creatures, packing mink into metal cages in groups is alien and unnatural.
“For that reason, Veterinary Ireland asserts that it is impossible to regulate the fur trade and somehow make it kinder. It is not farming at all. The mink are gassed at six months and their skins are pulled off.”
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