The State could become a haven for mink and fox farming as more European countries ban the activity, a leading animal welfare organisation claimed yesterday when it produced a videotape of mink and fox cages shot here in 1998.
Announcing a joint campaign with the Respect for Animals organisation for a total ban on fur farming, Ms Mary-Anne Bartlett, of Compassion in World Farming, said the Republic was one of the few remaining states where fur farming was allowed.
Describing the conditions shown on the five-minute video as excessive cruelty, she said most Irish people did not realise that foxes were being farmed here and they had no protection in law because they were regarded as vermin.
While fur farmers killed mink by poisoning them with carbon monoxide, foxes were restrained by holding the tail and a strap around their neck.
They were then electrocuted by placing electrodes in their mouth and anus.
Ms Bartlett said four mink farms were currently licensed by the Department of Agriculture and two were awaiting licence renewal.
Because fox farms did not require a licence, only limited statistics were available but the organisations had learned of one fox farm operating in the State. In 2000 it had 1,800 foxes.