Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 February 2022
176. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will examine a series of matters (details supplied) raised in relation to the Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6795/22]
View answerThe Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021 that is currently going through the legislative process, will provide for the statutory prohibition of fur farming. It is acknowledged that the prohibition will impact on farm businesses that are currently operating business in accordance with the law. For this reason, the legislation will make provision for a scheme of compensation, that is fair and reasonable, to be made available to the three farm businesses affected by the prohibition.
The compensation scheme being brought forward will see that these businesses be paid for income losses, non-income losses and costs incurred as a direct result of the ban.
The regulations being prepared at the moment will specify and set out the framework for compensation regarding the income and non-income losses and other costs and provide the basis of valuation. They will also provide detail on compensation for costs involved in disposing of breeding mink, demolition and clean-up costs, payments to redundant workers, and professional fees for professionals used in the process.
A copy of the draft regulations containing this detail will be made available to the farmers and their representatives in the near future.
It is my intention to ensure that the ban on Mink Farming is progressed in a fair and equitable manner with consideration being given to the concerns of all parties involved.
