The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, TD, and the Minister of State with Responsibility for Biodiversity and Land Use, Senator Pippa Hackett, have welcomed the signing into law last night by the President; of new legislation relating to Fur Farming and Forestry. The bill had been passed at all stages by the Oireachtas last week.
The main purpose of the Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill is to prohibit the farming of animals primarily for their fur or skin in Ireland and provide for a compensation scheme for the current farmers affected. It also introduces some unrelated but important amendments to the Forestry Act 2014.
Minister McConalogue commented,“I welcome this legislation. It allows the Government’s decision to prohibit fur farming, as outlined in the Programme for Government, to be implemented – it provides for the statutory prohibition of farming of animals primarily for their fur or skin in Ireland. While fur farming was once societally acceptable, attitudes have changed on the matter. The prohibition of fur farming was one of the commitments in the Programme for Government and I am glad to have been able to bring the legislation through to completion.”
Minister of State for Biodiversity and Land Use, Senator Pippa Hackett said,
“I am pleased to see the progressive and historic fur farming ban come to pass. This Bill had the support of Veterinary Ireland, Animal Welfare Groups and the vast majority of the public.”
“The forestry aspect of the bill is also a really welcome development. It may help to expand existing native woodlands, create new areas, play a significant role in contributing to riparian margin planting, and have a positive impact on both our biodiversity and water quality. I look forward to working with the many stakeholders that have engaged with me in recent weeks and months as we now begin work on a scheme design.“
In conclusion, Minister McConalogue noted that, “The requirement to comply with environmental law is not undermined by making this change, as all works are controlled by regulation through a Departmental scheme. The development of a scheme will be undertaken, taking into account the outcome of a Strategic Environmental and Appropriate Assessments, both of which will now take place. Eligibility criteria will be incorporated into the scheme which will ensure that all tree planting works are undertaken in a legally compliant and sustainable manner”.