Ireland is set to become the 15th country in the European union to ban fur farming after the country’s cabinet approved to phase-out fur farming. The bill is expected to be introduced into the Dáil, the Irish parliament, in September.

Thank you to everyone who supported us in this campaign. You really have made a difference and helped prevent more unnecessary animal suffering.

The Government has recently come under strong pressure to back a Bill to ban fur farming proposed by Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger. The prohibition of Fur Farming Bill had gained the support from across the opposition, including Fianna Fail, Sinn Fein, Labour, Independents 4 Change, the Green Party and the Social Democrats, and was due to be debated in the Dail on July 3. The Bill was withdrawn, but will be re-introduced if the government takes back its promise to introduce its own legislation in September.

This pressure was intensified by the results of an independently conducted opinion poll by Red-C and commissioned by Respect for Animals. The poll found that 80% of people in Ireland want fur farming to be banned.

The cruelty of the fur industry was further exposed  by the publication of a new report from Veterinary Ireland in December.  The report considered all the scientific evidence and concluded that, on animal welfare grounds, ‘there should be an immediate ban on the farming of mink, and similar wild animals, for the production of fur’.  Veterinary Ireland’s report relied on a comprehensive scientific review published by Respect for Animals, The Case Against Fur Factory Farming, which was launched at the European Parliament.

The Government’s shift in policy towards supporting a ban on fur farming in response to this pressure is to be strongly welcomed and Respect for Animals looks forward to the day when fur farming in Ireland is a thing of the past.

There are currently three mink farms in Ireland – a decline from five in the last decade.  These three farms breed and kill approximately 150,000 mink a year in shocking, caged conditions.  Economic records show that the industry has low and declining economic value in Ireland.

Respect for Animals notes that continued claims by Government ministers that there are 100 people employed in Ireland’s fur industry do not square with official inspectorate records. Actually, the most recent records put the number of people working on the fur farms at 52.

Fur farming bans are spreading rapidly and, without urgent legislation, Ireland risks being left behind as one of the few European countries to allow this barbaric practice.

Country after country has phased out or banned fur farming, including  the UK, Austria, the Netherlands, Croatia, Slovenia, Norway, the Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Belgium, North Macedonia, Serbia, Germany – with others set to follow in the coming years. A number of US cities have introduced sales bans on real fur, with similar proposals currently being considered for the State of California and New York City.  In recent years the majority of major fashion houses have gone fur free, including Prada in recent weeks.

There are currently three mink farms in Ireland – a decline from five in the last decade.  These three farms breed and kill approximately 150,000 mink a year in shocking, caged conditions.  Economic records show that the industry has low and declining economic value in Ireland.

Respect for Animals notes that continued claims by Government ministers that there are 100 people employed in Ireland’s fur industry do not square with official inspectorate records. Actually, the most recent records put the number of people working on the fur farms at 52.

The campaign has been energised by the animal advocacy group NARA, who  have organised weekly protests, leaflet campaigns and put considerable pressure on politicians to consider the issue carefully.

Respect for Animals Campaigns Director, Mark Glover, says:

‘We are waiting to see the details of the Government’s new plans, but this has to be considered a good moment for animals.

I have campaigned against the cruel and unnecessary fur trade for many years, seeing first hand how fur factory farming is a morally bankrupt industry.  The sooner it is ended in Ireland the better.

The work of NARA, Ruth Coppinger and her team, as well as the support of the Fur Free Alliance has been invaluable to this campaign. The day when we can finally add Ireland to the growing list of countries who have banned fur farming feels very close. ’

Commenting on the official confirmation on the Cabinet approval for banning fur farming in Ireland, Agriculutre Minister Michael Creed said:

“There has been considerable international and societal debate about fur farming. While the Department has strengthened its controls over the sector in recent years, it is clear that there has been a shift in societal expectations in relation to the sector and recent Veterinary evidence suggests that the farming of mink is counter to good animal welfare. Taking these considerations into account, it is considered timely to commence the phasing out of the industry in Ireland.”