There are fresh calls for an end to Ireland's cruel fur farming, with Jan O'Sullivan, Clare Daly and Roisin Shortall the latest politicians pushing for a ban. In a Dail Question this month, Labour Party TD Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City) urged the Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed, to stop fur farming "further to the European Commission report stating that fur farming impairs mink welfare". https://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2018-02-13a.1222#g1223.q This week, following the release of video footage filmed by the National Animal Rights Association showing caged mink on a fur farm in Donegal, Dublin Fingal Independent TD Clare Daly stated: "On Ireland's fur farms, caged mink live in filthy conditions and are slaughtered at six months to make horrible coats. Norway has recently banned fur farming, Ireland should do the same." In a parliamentary question last month, Deputy Daly called on Minister Creed to "adopt a similar strategy to Norway in order to close Ireland's three licensed mink fur farms in view of the fact that the Norwegian authorities have recently announced a strategy to close down that country's 300 fur farms by 2023". Dublin North West TD Roisin Shortall (Social Democrats) is also urging Minister Creed to "ban the practice of fur farming". https://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2018-01-30a.1129 Dismissing the appalling cruelty of fur farming, Minister Creed responded: "I have no plans to amend the current regulatory provisions around fur farming." This response is completely unacceptable. It is to Ireland's shame that it continues to be a part of the fur trade. On the three remaining fur farms here, an estimated 250,000 mink are caged and killed every year. The animals endure a life of misery in captivity until, at six months of age, they are pulled from the cages, thrown into a box and poisoned with carbon monoxide gas before the fur is pulled from their bodies. Mink are semi-aquatic and evolved physiologically to hold their breath. They are able to detect a lack of oxygen in their blood and are prone to hypoxia, which means that their suffering can continue during gassing. Watch our video footage of caged mink in a fur farm in Laois https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvX1O9GvsQ4 Watch latest NARA footage showing caged mink in a fur farm in Donegal https://www.facebook.com/NARAcampaignsIRELAND/videos/1694193503937318/ ACTION ALERT Please join us in urging Minister Michael Creed and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to put in place a long overdue ban on fur farming. Email "Ban fur farming NOW" to Leo.Varadkar@oir.ie, michael.creed@oir.ie, taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie, AnimalHealthAndWelfareAct@agriculture.gov.ie Tel: +353 (0)1 6194000 (Leo Varadkar) Tel: 01-607 2000 or LoCall 1890-200510 (Michael Creed) Tweet: @campaignforleo @creedcnw Ban fur farming NOW Comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/campaignforleo/ https://www.facebook.com/michaelcreedtd