Thanks to Paul Murphy TD (RISE/Solidarity, Dublin South West) for asking Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue "if he has ordered the closure of the three remaining fur farms here in the interests of public health in view of a mutated strain of COVID19 which can spread from mink to humans" https://kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2020-11-12a.1050
Responding, Minister McConalogue stated: “Following the outbreak of a new form of COVID19 in mink in Denmark and the possibility of the mutation moving from mink to humans, my Department has initiated testing of animals on the three mink farms. Public safety is our main concern and as the results of testing become available we will work with our colleagues in the HSE to progress this matter.”
“My Department is in the process of preparing a Bill to provide for the phased introduction of a ban on fur farming which will include a prohibition on mink farming,” he added. “The Bill will make it illegal for any new fur farms to be established and will put in place phase out arrangements for the small number of current operators. The Programme for Government 2020 contains a commitment regarding the prohibition of fur farming and Department officials have been working on appropriate steps to give effect to this.”
In appeals to Taoiseach Micheal Martin and the Ministers for Health and Agriculture, ICABS has called for the fur farms to be immediately shut.
“It would be unforgivable if this course of action was not followed and a mutated version of the virus emerged in Ireland, causing further infections, deaths, lockdowns and a possible return to square one for those working to produce an effective vaccine," we stated.
They were reminded that the government has already pledged to ban fur farming and that the closure of fur farms is inevitable so therefore, closing them down now would merely be a matter of speeding up this process.
Find out more about Coronavirus (COVID-19) and how you can protect yourself - https://www2.hse.ie/coronavirus/
ACTION ALERT
Please join us in urging the government to shut down Ireland’s three remaining fur farms NOW 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)1-640 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
Jennifer Whitmore TD urges Taoiseach to "move immediately to ban fur farming in Ireland”
https://www.facebook.com/banbloodsports/videos/1142900706112158/