Fine Gael is being urged to follow Fianna Fáil, the Green Party, Sinn Fein, Labour Party, People Before Profit, Independents 4 Change, the Social Democrats and Independent TDs in pledging support for Solidarity's upcoming Prohibition of Fur Farming bill (due for debate in Dail Eireann on 3rd July) - See full list of party statements below.
Fine Gael remains the only party in the Dail which has yet to give its backing to a ban. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Fine Gael are aware of the cruelty of fur farming and the results of a Red C opinion poll which confirmed that 8 in 10 citzens want fur farming ended. It is time for the party to respect the wishes of the majority and act to bring this shameful practice to an end.
On Ireland's three remaining fur farms, an estimated 150,000 to 200,000 mink are permanently caged and can be seen frantically jumping against the bars of the cages to try and get free. At six months of age, they are pulled squealing from the cages and poisoned to death with Carbon Monoxide gas before the fur is pulled from their bones. Fur farming has been condemned by Veterinary Ireland as cruel.
Ireland must now join the growing list of countries in the EU and around the world which have already banned fur farming.
POLITICAL SUPPORT FOR A BAN ON CRUEL FUR FARMING
Solidarity
Solidarity’s Prohibition of Fur Farming Bill is due for debate in the Dail on 3rd July
Fianna Fáil
The Fianna Fáil Frontbench and Parliamentary Party has agreed to back the proposal to introduce a ban on the farming of mink for the production of fur in Ireland.
The Green Party
"The Green Party supports the banning of fur farming of all species (mink, fox, etc)" - Green Party Animal Welfare Policy
People Before Profit
“Ban fur farming. Fur farming of all species (mink, fox etc.) is cruel and unnecessary in the current age. Confined to small cages, animals reared for fur often express stereotypic behaviour – a clear sign of distress. Fur farming has been banned or phased out in most EU Member States.”
Sinn Fein
"After consultation with our Policy Department, I can confirm that Sinn Féin passed a motion at an Ard Fheis a number of years ago to ban mink farming. I am therefore happy to confirm that we will be in a position to support the legislation when it is introduced at second stage." Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald, in an email to ICABS in August 2018.
Independents 4 Change
Independents 4 Change TD Clare Daly has called for a ban on fur farming, saying “an outright ban on fur farming is the only choice that is compatible with animal welfare”
Labour Party
"The Labour Party recognises that there is widespread public concern about fur farming and the conditions in which otherwise wild animals are kept in this industry. Labour supports a ban on fur farming in Ireland." Labour Party leader, Brendan Howlin in an email to ICABS in August 2018.
ACTION ALERT
Urge Taoiseach/Prime Minister, Leo Varadkar, and Agriculture Minister Michael Creed to put in place a long overdue ban on fur farming.
Leo Varadkar TD
Department of the Taoiseach
Merrion Street, Dublin 2
Phone: +353 (0)1-6194000 OR +353 (0)1-6403133
Email: leo.varadkar@oir.ie, finegael@finegael.ie
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leovaradkar
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LeoVaradkar
Michael Creed TD
Minister for Agriculture
Kildare Street, Dublin 2.
Email: michael.creed@oir.ie
Tel: 01-607 2000 or LoCall 1890-200510.
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michaelcreedtd
Tweet to: @creedcnw
Email “Please vote in favour of a ban on fur farming” to all Fine Gael TDs
maria.bailey@oireachtas.ie; sean.barrett@oireachtas.ie; pat.breen@oireachtas.ie; colm.brophy@oireachtas.ie; richard.bruton@oireachtas.ie; peter.burke@oireachtas.ie; catherine.byrne@oireachtas.ie; Ciaran.Cannon@oireachtas.ie; joe.carey@oireachtas.ie; corcorankennedy@eircom.net; Simon.Coveney@oireachtas.ie; michael.creed@oireachtas.ie; michael.darcy@oireachtas.ie; Jim.Daly@oireachtas.ie; john.deasy@oireachtas.ie; Pat.Deering@oireachtas.ie; Regina.Doherty@oireachtas.ie; Paschal.Donohoe@oireachtas.ie; andrew.doyle@oireachtas.ie; bernard.durkan@oireachtas.ie; damien.english@oireachtas.ie; Alan.Farrell@oireachtas.ie; frances.fitzgerald@oir.ie; peterm.fitzpatrick@oireachtas.ie; charles.flanagan@oireachtas.ie; Brendan.Griffin@oireachtas.ie; Simon.Harris@oireachtas.ie; Martin.Heydon@oireachtas.ie; Heather.Humphreys@oireachtas.ie; paul.kehoe@oireachtas.ie; enda.kenny@oireachtas.ie; Sean.Kyne@oireachtas.ie; josepha.madigan@oireachtas.ie; helen.mcentee@oireachtas.ie; joe.mchugh@oireachtas.ie; Tony.McLoughlin@oireachtas.ie; Mary.MitchellOConnor@oireachtas.ie; Dara.Murphy@oireachtas.ie; Eoghan.Murphy@oireachtas.ie; hildegarde.naughton@oireachtas.ie; tom.neville@limerick.ie; michael.noonan@oireachtas.ie; kate.oconnell@oireachtas.ie; Patrick.O'Donovan@oireachtas.ie; fergus.odowd@oireachtas.ie; JohnPaul.Phelan@oireachtas.ie; michael.ring@oireachtas.ie; noel@noelrock.ie; david.stanton@oir.ie; leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie
Contact Fine Gael TDs individually. Find names, constituencies and contact details at https://www.finegael.ie/our-people/tds/
Please contact all your local TDs and urge them to support Solidarity's bill. Contact details for TDs can be found at https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/tds/?term=/ie/oireachtas/house/dail/32
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