The animal cruelty scandal that has rocked Australia’s greyhound industry should give us food for thought in Ireland. Trainers were caught on camera feeding live rabbits, possums, and piglets to their dogs, as part of the ‘blooding’ process.

The proposal by Agriculture & Defence Minister Simon Coveney to reform and regulate fur farming rather than ban it is typical of the Fine Gael led government’s "Pontius Pilate" like attitude to animal welfare.