A big thank you to Social Democrats TD, Jennifer Whitmore, for today calling on the government to immediately ban fur farming in Ireland. In a statement, the Wicklow TD commented: “There have always been ethical and environmental reasons to ban mink farming. However, now that a Covid-19 variant has been detected on mink farms in six countries, we need to act urgently to ban this practice on public health grounds.”
Read the full statement below and please respond to the urgent action alert.
Urgent need for ban on mink farms after Covid strain detected abroad
11 November 2020
Social Democrats TD for Wicklow, Jennifer Whitmore, has called for an immediate ban on mink farming in Ireland following the emergence of a new strain of Covid-19 relating to the industry in Europe and the US.
Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson for Climate Action and Biodiversity, said:
“There have always been ethical and environmental reasons to ban mink farming. However, now that a Covid-19 variant has been detected on mink farms in six countries, we need to act urgently to ban this practice on public health grounds.
“It is a matter of deep concern that Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Italy and the US have all identified a strain of the virus on mink farms. It is vital that enhanced inspections are carried out by the Department of Agriculture on mink farms in Ireland to identify any potential risks.
“The Programme for Government 2020 contains a clear commitment regarding the prohibition of fur farming. Department officials have said they are currently preparing the appropriate draft heads of a Bill to facilitate the achievement of this objective with a view to it being published by 2021 – this is far too late given the heightened urgency of the situation.
“There are three large mink farms operating in Laois, Donegal and Kerry, which produce approximately 110,000 pelts per annum. This industry must be banned immediately and we need to see an urgent transition out of existing mink farms.”
https://www.socialdemocrats.ie/urgent-need-for-ban-on-mink-farms-after-covid-strain-detected-abroad/
ACTION ALERT
Please join us in urging the government to shut down Ireland’s three remaining fur farms and put in place the promised ban on fur farming.
Micheál Martin, Taoiseach
Email: micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie; info@fiannafail.ie
Phone: +353 (0)1–618 4350 or +353 (0)21-432 0088
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD
Leo Varadkar, Tánaiste
Telephone: +353 (0)1-704 3630 OR +353 (0)1-640 3133
Email: leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
Tweet to: @LeoVaradkar
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeoVaradkar
Eamon Ryan TD
Leader, Green Party
Tel: 01 618 3894
Email: eamon.ryan@oireachtas.ie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EamonRyanGP/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EamonRyan
Health Minister, Stephen Donnelly
Tel: (01) 201 7300 or (01) 618 3041
Email: ministersoffice@health.gov.ie
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DonnellyforWicklow
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DonnellyStephen
Charlie McConalogue
Minister for Agriculture
Tel: (01) 618 3199
Email: charlie.mcconalogue@oireachtas.ie
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CharlieMcConalogue
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@McConalogue
Please support our campaign with a donation
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SEE ALSO:
Coronavirus testing at Irish mink farms under way
https://www.rte.ie/news/2020/1109/1176939-coronavirus-mink/
COVID19 testing at Irish fur farms: Govt must shut them down
https://www.facebook.com/banbloodsports/posts/3425502754231925
Letter: Government should roll out ban on fur farming
https://www.facebook.com/banbloodsports/posts/3427209740727893
Mink screaming: Tell Irish Government to shut down fur farms
https://youtu.be/62P0saq6DO0