Fianna Fail, the Mink Coat Government - Protest

national | animal rights | press release

Thursday September 03, 2009 12:36

by ALiberation - ALiberation

aliberationnow at gmail dot com

086 3203643

Fianna Fail and 6 Irish Fur Factory Farms are responsible for killing over 170,000 animals each year for fur.

In 1966 the Fianna Fail Government were labeled the “Mink Coat Government” by Deputy Sweetman in a Dail debate. Today they can as easily be labeled the “Mink Farm Government”.
Every other political party except Fianna Fail has called for a ban on fur factory farms. Without Fianna Fail’s support there would be no fur factory farms in Ireland.
There would be no fur factories in Ireland if Fianna Fail carried out the law
Protest Fianna Fail due to their support of fur factory farms. Organised by AFAR and ALiberation.
Photo opportunity; Press welcome. 6 ft high Mink on a mobile Ad trailor. Protesters dressed as Ministers in Fur.

Fianna Fail - Mink Coat Government

Contact:
Ed of ALiberation, 086 3203643,
Bernie of AFAR, 087 2651720

Mink Coat Government
Fianna Fail and 6 Irish Fur Factory Farms are responsible for killing over 170,000 animals each year for fur. Minks Artic Foxes and Red Foxes are caged for life. This will lead to self mutilation, cannibalism, and psychotic conditions. These animals are exploited by the fur industry and will have their most basic interests deprived and their rights denied.

In 1966 the Fianna Fail Government were labeled the “Mink Coat Government” by Deputy Sweetman in a Dail debate. Today they can as easily be labeled the “Mink Farm Government”.
Every other political party except Fianna Fail has called for a ban on fur factory farms. Without Fianna Fail’s support there would be no fur factory farms in Ireland.

The keeping of mink is legally prohibited, except by a license, which requires minks to be kept in cages, contrary to farm welfare legislation. The issuing of licenses is at the minister’s discretion. There are no welfare provisions in a mink license. Fox factory farms remains unlicensed, despite promises to regulate.

Fianna Fail and Fur Factory Farming.
1) 1965: Charlie Haughey, Minister of Agriculture, rushes through the controversial Musk Rats Act 1933 (Application to Mink) Order 1965. No debate takes place, Sections from the act that put restrictions on the minister are removed giving Minister Haughey and successive Ministers absolute power to license.
2) 2005: Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan, and the present Minister Brendan Smith led Fianna Fail to defeat the Bill to outlaw fur factory farming in Ireland, put forward by the Green Party. All opposition parties vote in favour of a ban.
3) 2000 – present: Fianna Fail ministers have misled the public. Under Statutory law since 2000 an animal “must be given the space appropriate to its physiological and ethological (behavioral) needs in accordance with established experience and scientific knowledge”. The European Scientific Committee produced a 200-page report on the welfare of animals on fur factory farms back in 2001. This report among other things found the typical cage for minks and foxes does not provide for important needs. Minister Smith dismissed this report by claiming future research is needed. This is completely false. The minister’s own license conditions go against this legal requirement of appropriate space.
4) The Dept of Agriculture “failed to locate any Department records relevant to” Freedom of Information request on basic matters including the annual amount of animals killed on fur factory farms, how many “mortalities” there are, how often disease has occurred, what types of disease has occurred etc. Despite having no statistics, the ministers will still claim that this is a regulated industry.

Mink Farm Government quotes:
“I am opposed to the introduction of a ban on fur farming.”
Then Minister of Agriculure, Mary Coughan. Fianna Fail. Dail Debate 2005

I have no plans to ban fur farming in Ireland.
Then Minister of Agriculture Joe Walsh. Fianna Fail. Dail Question, 2004.

“[…] The keeping of mink is prohibited except under license from my Department”
Present Minister for Agriculture, Mr Brendan Smith, Fianna Fail. Dail Debate 2005.

There would be no fur factories in Ireland if Fianna Fail carried out the law

What Minister Brendan Smith must do:
1) Revoke all licenses for Minks as provided by section 16 (2) of the Musk Rats Act; “Where at any time the Minister is of the opinion that the keeping of [minks]* in Saorstat Eireann should, in the public interest, be absolutely prohibited, he may revoke all [mink] licenses then in force.” and
2) Refuse to grant any more licenses for Minks under section 11 (1) of the Musk Rats Act; “the Minister may, in his absolute discretion, grant or refuse to grant an application for a [mink] license.” and
3) Include the permanent outlawing of fur factory farms in the Animal Health and Welfare bill which is currently being drafted, or to bring in separate legislation to outlaw fur factory farms within Ireland.

*Note (1), As per the Musk Rats Act 1933 (Application to Mink) Order 1965, these sections apply to minks.

What you can do?
 Go Vegan (campaign against all animal exploitation at the same time)
 Go to www.aliberation.org or www.afarireland.org and learn the facts.
 Get involved. Sign up to our mailing list and come to our events.
 Contact your local politicians.
 Contact any shops that sell animal fur.
 Write a letter to the Minister of Agriculture. See details below.

Department of Agriculture,
Head Office,
Agriculture house
Kildare Street
Dublin 2.

When: Tuesday, 8th Sept 2009
Time: 1pm – 2pm
Where: Fianna Fail Headquarters, 65-66 Lower Mount St, Dublin 2
Map: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=65-66+Lower+Mount+St,+Dub...num=1

More info:
www.aliberation.org
www.afarireland.org
Undercover investigation into Irish Fur Factory Farms
http://aliberation.vegaplanet.org/irish.fur.undercover.php

Contact:
Ed of ALiberation,
0863203643,
aliberationnow@gmail.com

Bernie of AFAR,
087 2651720
berniew@esatclear.ie