At a date in June yet to be set, Ireland’s parliament will debate the second stage of a Bill proposing a ban on fur farming. The country has three huge fur farms (see attached video), where a total more than 200,000 mink are killed every year to supply the vile fur industry.
These aquatic animals that belong in waterways and wide open spaces are confined in tiny cages for six months before being gassed and having the fur ripped from their bodies. During captivity many sustain injury as they fight each other in the cramped conditions.
Footage secretly obtained recently at one of the fur farms shocked even hardened animal welfare campaigners: Distressed mink could be heard screaming in their cages. The heart-rending cries seemed never-ending, giving the lie to claims by the industry that the animals are “looked after” prior to slaughter.
Most opposition members of parliament have declared their support for the proposed ban. But, crucially, the “Soldiers of Destiny” (Fianna Fail in Irish) party has yet to decide on whether to back a ban.
The success of the Bill depends on which way this party votes. So, it’s vital to persuade them to vote for an end to fur farming in June.
Here’s how you can help: by sending a message to all of the Fianna Fail party members of parliament, asking them to support the Bill to ban fur farming.
Simply email the message to yourself, with a “blind back up copy” to the list supplied below.
You can compose a message of your own or use this sample one:
Re upcoming debate in Ireland’s parliament on Bill to Ban Fur Farming
Dear Deputy,
I am asking you to please vote for the Prohibition of Fur Farming Bill when it comes before Ireland’s parliament in June. All animal protection organisations as well as Veterinary Ireland have denounced fur farming as an inhumane and completely indefensible practice. I urge you to avail of this opportunity to rid Ireland of what is clearly a most blatant form of animal cruelty masquerading as an “industry.”
Yours sincerely,
***
Here’s the address list: Email the message to yourself, having “copied and pasted” the list into the “blind back up copy”… Thank you!
List of relevant members of the Irish parliament whose support for the fur farming ban is essential:
shane.cassells@oireachtas.ie, eugene.murphy@oireachtas.ie, escanlonmcc@eircom.net, john.lahart@oireachtas.ie, jackie.cahill@oireachtas.ie, mary.butler@oireachtas.ie,james.browne@oireachtas.ie, pat.casey@oireachtas.ie, john.curran@oireachtas.ie,bobby.aylward@oireachtas.ie, patthecope.gallagher@oireachtas.ie, timmy.dooley@oireachtas.ie,willie.odea@oireachtas.ie, darragh.obrien@oireachtas.ie, marc.macsharry@oireachtas.ie,stephen.donnelly@oireachtas.ie, thomas.byrne@oireachtas.ie, niamh.smyth@oireachtas.ie,kevin.okeeffe@oireachtas.ie, margaret.murphyomahony@oireachtas.ie,sean.haughey@oireachtas.ie,jim.ocallaghan@oireachtas.ie, anne.rabbitte@oireachtas.ie, jack.chambers@outlook.com, jack.chambers@oireachtas.ie, john.brassil@oireachtas.ie, frank.orourke@oireachtas.ie,james.lawless@oireachtas.ie, declan.breathnach@oireachtas.ie, lisa.chambers@oireachtas.ie,aindrias.moynihan@oireachtas.ie, fiona.oloughlin@oireachtas.ie, dara.calleary@oireachtas.ie,barry.cowen@oireachtas.ie, billy.kelleher@oireachtas.ie, brendan.smith@oireachtas.ie,charlie.mcconalogue@oireachtas.ie, eamon.ocuiv@oireachtas.ie,john.mcguinness@oireachtas.ie, michael.mcgrath@oireachtas.ie,michael.moynihan@oireachtas.ie, micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie, niall.collins@oireachtas.ie, robert.troy@oireachtas.ie, sean.fleming@oireachtas.ie,sean.ofearghail@oireachtas.ie
Footage of mink on Irish fur farm:
