Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 February 2022
267. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will publish the independent consultant's report into compensation arising from legislation to prohibit fur farming in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10304/22]
View answer268. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the indicative compensation costs and the breakdown of the loss categories covered arising from legislation to prohibit fur farming in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10305/22]
View answer269. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there will be a specific reskilling programme for rural workers made redundant due to the legislation to prohibit fur farming in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10306/22]
View answer270. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the compensation envisaged under legislation to prohibit fur farming in Ireland will include the costs of environmental impact assessments, demolition and site remediation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10307/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 267, 268, 269 and 270 together.
The 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.
The legislation provides that these businesses are paid compensation for income losses, non-income losses and costs incurred as a direct result of the ban. I have consulted with the farm business as to the loss categories that should be included in the Bill.
The follow on Regulations being prepared at the moment will specify and set out the framework for the income and non-income compensation 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.
Regarding environmental surveys, it is envisaged that the costs for carrying out such will be covered in the compensation package. It is also foreseen that the costs around demolition and clean-up of the sites/remediation of the sites concerned are to be covered. These provisions are to be part of the Regulations being prepared. I have recently shared a copy of the current draft regulations with the fur farming businesses and their representatives.
I will release the Grant Thornton Report to the Fur Farming businesses and their representatives shortly. This report assisted in developing the approach to valuation and the various risk categories which were included in the draft Bill last autumn.
Regarding indicative compensation amounts, all the information the farm businesses need to calculate their potential compensation entitlement is within their possession i.e. their asset values and profit income as filed in their company accounts. They also possess details with regard to building areas and the design aspects of those buildings. In addition statutory financial caps have been provided in the draft regulations provided. It is important to recall that whilst the legislative process will outline the loss categories for which the farm businesses will be compensated and where relevant the caps that will apply to various categories, that the actual compensation amounts that will arise will be determined by an independent assessor, in response to individual applications with supporting documentation made by the businesses.
I am advised that the Department of Social Protection have committed to put together a plan or programme for the affected employees in advance of the prohibition.
