Fur farming allowed to continue, review finds

Fur farming should be allowed continue in Ireland despite widespread animal welfare concerns, a Department of Agriculture review has found.

The news will come as a blow for animal rights activists who had been hopeful that a ban, promised under the Fianna Fáil/Green Party coalition, would be introduced at the end of this year.

The five mink farms operating in Ireland are located in Donegal, Kerry, Laois, and Sligo. They account for around 200,000 to 225,000 mink, 62 full-time jobs, and salaries of €1.3m per year. Exports of mink are worth about €5m per year.