Compassion In World Farming Ireland

ARCHIVE - Press releases and news items

Compassion in World Farming-Ireland's most current press releases are on our home page.

October 2009: Read Compassion in World Farming - Ireland's Irish Newsletter, with articles on our campaign for Irish pigs to have rooting material, fur farming, and the future of the Common Agricultural Policy.

11th October 2009: Compassion in World Farming - Ireland welcomes a phase-out of fur farming in the new agreed Programme for Government, and congratulates the Green Party for this major step forward for farm animal welfare standards. Read Compassion-Ireland's Press Release.

5th October 2009: At the start of World Animal Week, Compassion in World Farming - Ireland's Director is interviewed on RTE Radio 1 Drivetime Farm News, talking about the problems that farmed mink and fox face on Irish fur farms and why this type of farming is incompatible with a future for Ireland as a producer of high quality food.

25th September 2009: In a submission to Agriculture Minister Smith's consultation process regarding the direction that the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) should take after 2013, Compassion in World Farming - Ireland argues that CAP funds should be directed to areas such as care of the environment, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, food safety, preservation of the landscape, and animal welfare. Read Compassion-Ireland's Submission.

July 2009: Compassion in World Farming - Ireland submits a Formal Complaint to the European Commission in light of Ireland's failure to ensure that pigs are provided with effective enrichment material and that routine tail docking is not carried out. A Report by the European Food Safety Authority shows that 95% of pigs in Ireland are tail docked. Read Compassion-Ireland's Formal Complaint. Read an article in the Sunday Times about this issue.

15th May 2009: In a Compassion - Ireland comments on possible proposed new EU animal transport rules on RTE's Drivetime radio. Listen here (Compassion-Ireland's interview is at the end of the programme at 1:56:23). Compassion in World Farming welcomes the possibility of a limit on journeys for animals travelling to slaughter but opposes any weakening of journey limits or rest periods for animals travelling for further fattening..

14th April 2009: Read Compassion in World Farming - Ireland's latest 'Campaigns Update'. The main article, headlined "Rooting For Pigs", highlights welfare problems for intensively reared pigs, and argues that pigs should have freedom of movement and should be provided with material for rooting in.

22nd March 2009: In a letter published in The Sunday Times on the subject of religeous slaughter, Compassion in World Farming - Ireland says that the science indicates that all animals should be stunned before slaughter.

29th January 2009: Compassion in World Farming - Ireland is interviewed on the popular Irish television RTE farming programme, Ear To The Ground, about animal welfare problems in the intensive pig farming industry, in particular: lack of straw, routine tail-docking, and the use of farrowing crates.

2nd January 2009: Compassion in World Farming - Ireland expresses great sadness at the death of Tony Gregory, TD (pictured, left, at a Compassion-Ireland event). He was one of the most supportive politicians in Ireland with regard to animal welfare issues, including farm animal welfare. Over the years, he came to many Compassion-Ireland events, and raised farm animal welfare concerns in the Dáil. His help and support, which we valued highly, will be badly missed.

13th December 2008: A lengthy article in the Irish Independent newspaper, about pig farming in Ireland, includes Compassion-Ireland's concerns about welfare problems. Tail-docking of piglets is widespread on Irish pig farms, and the necessity for this often stems from an inadequate environment, says Compassion-Ireland.

December 2008: Compassion-Ireland welcomed meeting officials of the Irish Department of Agriculture, as part of the consultation process for the proposed new Animal Health & Welfare Bill. Compassion-Ireland is urging the Government to include a ban on fur farming in the new Bill, which is due to be published in 2009. Compassion-Ireland says the new Bill is a golden opportunity to set high farm animal welfare standards that will enhance the image of Ireland as a producer of high quality agricultural produce.

11th December 2008: Compassion-Ireland seeks assurance from the Irish Department of Agriculture that pigs potentially contaminated with dioxin are properly fed and cared for whilst held on farms, and that the slaughter of these animals is carried out humanely under supervision of an offical veterinarian. Read our Press Release (2). Read our pig information page.

8th December 2008: Compassion-Ireland calls on Irish Agriculture Minister to protect the welfare of Irish pigs during current pork dioxin crisis in Ireland. Read our Press Release (1).

19th November 2008: Some drivers carrying Irish calves to the Continent are still failing to give the animals their legally required rest period in France. There is a history of this problem. Compassion-Ireland has complained to the Irish Minister for Agriculture, asking him to take action to ensure that the law on rest periods is fully complied with by all drivers carrying Irish calves. Read more in our newsletter.

5^th October 2008: ARAN Rally on Sunday 5th October 2008 in Dublin, is a huge success! Compassion in World Farming - Ireland's Director, Mary-Anne Bartlett, was amongst the speakers. She urged the Government to ensure that the new Animal Health & Welfare Bill recognises animals as sentient beings and includes a ban on fur farming. More about the ARAN Rally.

8^th September 2008: At a lecture in London hosted by Compassion in World Farming, Dr Rajendra Pachauri, Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and winner of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, challenged reliance on high meat consumption. He said that livestock production releases 18% of our global greenhouse gas, can pollute water and soils, damages our health and often causes suffering to animals kept in factory farms. Read more and hear excerpts from Dr Rajendra Pachauri’s lecture.

8^th September 2008: A new campaign, promoted by a Danish Member of the European Parliament, calls for EU law to be changed so that live animals going to slaughter are never transported for more than a total of 8 hours. At present, there is no maximum overall journey limit. Read more and sign the petition here.

1^st June 2008: CIWF-Ireland welcomes the public consultation for the proposed new Animal Health & Welfare Bill. The Bill will update and improve existing legislation, and set standards to protect the health and welfare of farm animals and other animals in Ireland. CIWF-Ireland wants the new Bill to include a ban on fur farming. Read more about CIWF-Ireland's view. Read more about the Public Consultation Process.

12^th April 2008: CIWF-Ireland holds a Ban Fur Farming information stand at the Green Party convention in Dundalk and is encouraged by the interest and support generated.

30^th Jan 2008: ARAN launched its new "Ban Fur Farming in Ireland" campaign with a peaceful protest outside the Dept. of Agriculture in Dublin. CIWF-Ireland supporters joined the protest, along with their life-size silver and arctic "foxes". Blind-folded ARAN supporters held placcards reading: "Minister Mary Coughlan: Blind to animal suffering on fur farms".

14^th Dec 2007: CIWF-Ireland's Director tells RTE's Farm News about our generous supporters and our current main campaigns to ban fur farming and to seek alternatives to the export of thousands of very young calves (under 6 weeks old) from Ireland to the Netherlands. Listen here (CIWF-Ireland's interview is about half way through the Farm News broadcast.)

23^rd September 2007: At the ANVIL All Ireland Animal Welfare Conference, CIWF-Ireland's Director presents a paper entitled Fur or Against. This details CIWF-Ireland's compelling arguments for fur farming to be banned in the Republic of Ireland. Fur farming is already illegal in Northern Ireland. Fur farming is clearly a major anomoly as Ireland moves toward an all-Ireland animal health and animal welfare strategy. Read CIWF-Ireland's presentation, Fur or Against.

17^th July 2007: CIWF's Keep the battery cage ban tour visits Belfast. This colourful street event encouraged public support for the battery cage to be banned in all EU countries from 2012, as agreed. Egg producers are trying to get the ban postponed but CIWF says there is clear evidence that hens suffer in battery cages. Read more about CIWF's tour.

June 2007: CIWF-Ireland welcomes the decision by the Irish Medicines Board's (IMB) Advisory Committee for Veterinary Medicines to allow better access to a local anaesthetic for use by veterinarians treating farm animals and for use by farmers, under prescription, when disbudding calves. The IBM notified CIWF-Ireland of its change of policy in this regard, pointing out that this addresses the animal welfare problems outlined in CIWF-Ireland's submission. Read CIWF-Ireland's submission to the IMB.

5^th June 2007: CIWF-Ireland welcomes the signing of legislation (S.I. No. 197 of 2007) that bans the use of electro-immobilisation on live animals in the Republic of Ireland from 1st September 2007. Electro-immobilisation is the practice of running an electrical current through an animal to "freeze" it into a stationary position so that certain procedures, such as de-horning of cattle, can be carried out. Read about CIWF's campaign against electro-immobilisation.

17^th May 2007: CIWF-Ireland responds to criticism from a farm lobby group about protests against live calf exports. CIWF-Ireland says humane ways to rear Irish calves in Ireland should be sought instead of forcing these animals to make the long journey to the continent, where many are destined for veal units in the Netherlands. Read CIWF-Ireland's letter, seeking humane alternatives to calf exports. Read farm lobby group's letter criticising animal welfare protests.

8^th May 2007: CIWF-Ireland calls on consumers in Ireland to choose the welfare-friendly option of Irish free-range or organic chicken as the EU agrees a Directive that sets standards for the rearing of chickens for meat. CIWF criticises the new EU standards, saying they give the green light to intensive poultry production. Read CIWF-Ireland's Press Release about the new EU Directive for meat chickens.

5^th May 2007: CIWF-Ireland joins "Ban Calf Exports" demonstration at Dover docks in England as opposition grows to shipments of British and Irish calves from Dover to France. Many of these calves are are destined for intensive veal production in the Netherlands. Read CIWF-Ireland's Press Release about the Dover demonstration.

17^th April 2007: CIWF-Ireland gives advice on voting for improved farm animal welfare in the forthcoming General Election in the Republic of Ireland. In particular, CIWF-Ireland sees banning fur farming as an important election issue. Read CIWF-Ireland's General Election page.

19^th March 2007: CIWF-Ireland's Director represents Ireland at a demonstration outside the European Commission offices in Brussels where animal welfare groups from all over the EU gather together to urge the Commission not to delay the agreed 2012 ban on battery cages for laying hens. Read CIWF-Ireland's Press Release about the 'Keep the battery cage ban' demonstration.

12^th February 2007: CIWF-Ireland releases, for the first time in Europe, new investigation footage by Animals Australia showing cruel street slaughter of cattle in Cairo. Also, for the first time in Ireland, earlier footage by CIWF is released, showing appalling slaughter conditions at one of Egypt's biggest slaughterhouses. Media interest includes a full-page colour photo-story in the Irish Mirror and interviews on radio. CIWF-Ireland continues to call for assurance from the Minister that live cattle will not be shipped from Ireland to Egypt. Read CIWF-Ireland's Press Release about films showing cruel slaughter in Egypt.

5^th February 2007: CIWF-Ireland opposes the possible resumption of live cattle shipments to Egypt, where animal welfare standards are very poor. Investigations found cattle at one of the biggest slaughterhouses in Egypt were subjected to brutal treatment whilst they awaited slaughter, including slashing of hind leg tendons. CIWF-Ireland has asked for an urgent meeting with Agriculture Minister Coughlan. Read CIWF-Ireland's Press Release about animal welfare problems in Egypt.

15^th January 2007: CIWF-Ireland is interviewed on RTE's Drivetime Farm News about the new EU animal transport Regulation, which came into force this month. CIWF-Ireland welcomes stricter enforcement and compulsory driver training, but says that the Regulation still allows very long journeys for animals. CIWF-Ireland will continue to campaign for the live export trade to be replaced by a trade in meat. Listen here.

15^th December 2006: CIWF-Ireland's Director, Ms. Bartlett, appears on RTE 1's national television programme Seoige & O'Shea to debate welfare aspects of fur farming in Ireland with the proprietor of a Dublin fur shop. CIWF-Ireland argues that there is no commercially viable way to humanely rear mink and foxes on intensive fur farms in Ireland. Ms. Bartlett describes how foxes on Irish fur farms are killed by electrocution by means of an electrode inserted into their anus and mouth.

Wednesday 13^th December 2006: CIWF-Ireland gives a presentation on farm animal welfare in Ireland to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture & Food. The presentation, by CIWF-Ireland's Director, examines problems that CIWF-Ireland identifies, and puts forward CIWF-Ireland's view on how these can be addressed. Read CIWF-Ireland's presentation.

Monday 11^th December 2006: CIWF-Ireland is dismayed to learn that talks aimed at securing an EU-wide Directive to protect the welfare of chickens reared for meat have collapsed. The Director of CIWF-Ireland says: "This is a sad day for chickens." Read CIWF-Ireland's Press Release about the collapse of the chicken Directive talks.

Sunday 10^th December 2006: Many CIWF-Ireland supporters are amongst the crowd of about 300 people who take part in a huge March Against Animal Suffering in Dublin today. Organised by ARAN in Dublin, animal welfare and animal rights groups from all over Ireland are represented. The March highlights animal suffering on fur farms, in laboratories, on factory farms, in circuses and hunting. This event gives a clear message to the Irish Government that people want an end to animal suffering in Ireland. There is massive public support for better animal welfare standards.

19^th September 2006: CIWF-Ireland is interviewed on RTE's Drivetime Farm News about how much has been achieved in improving farm animal welfare. Listen here.

18^th September 2006: As the EU Agriculture Council meets in Brussels today, CIWF-Ireland calls on Agriculture Minister Coughlan and the Council to make sure the EU-wide ban on battery cages in 2012 is not postponed. We argue that all Irish hens should be free-range.
Read CIWF-Ireland's Press Release about battery cages for laying hens and CIWF-international's Press Conference in Brussels.

23^rd July 2006: CIWF-Ireland delighted to have a stand at the ISPCA's wonderful Open Day at the National Animal Centre in Co. Longford - the sun shone and hundreds of people came! Click here to see photos of the ISPCA Open Day.

4^th July 2006: CIWF-Ireland's submission on the future of the Irish pig industry says that high animal welfare standards are the best way forward, and that alternatives to farrowing crates must be found.
Read CIWF-Ireland's submission on the future of the Irish pig industry.

19^th June 2006: CIWF-Ireland delivers giant postcard to Irish Agriculture Minister, calling on her to support the finalisation of a new EU Directive protecting the welfare of chickens reared for meat. CIWF says that a strong EU Directive for meat chickens is needed as a matter of urgency. At present, super-fast growing birds are used and these are prone to painful leg problems and even heart disease.
Read CIWF-Ireland's press release about the giant postcard hand-in.
Read CIWF-Ireland's press release about the EU Agriuclture Meeting.
Read facts about meat chickens and read about CIWF's campaign for better welfare for meat chickens.

28^th May 2006: Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) public consultation process on EU-wide food labelling, including discussion of labelling animal products to show animal welfare standard of rearing. CIWF supports animal welfare labelling because it allows consumers to make an informed choice about what they buy. For details of the consultation process, click here. Note the deadline for comments to the FSAI was 31st May 2006. Read CIWF-Ireland's submission on animal welfare labelling.

15^th May 2006: Good news! Electro-immobilisation is to be banned in the Republic of Ireland. This decision by the Irish Agriculture Minister is very much welcomed by CIWF-Ireland, which has campaigned for a ban since 2004. The decision means that from June 2007, the cruel practice of running electricity through an animal to "freeze" it into position (so that procedures such as dehorning can be carried out) will be illegal. Read Dept. of Agriculture press release. Read about electro-immobilisation and CIWF's campaign.

25^th April 2006: CIWF says that all emergency slaughter of poultry, should avian flu reach Ireland, must be swift, efficient and humane. It is reported that 6,000 chickens are to be gassed tomorrow in a trial to test the avian flu emergency plan in the Republic of Ireland. CIWF expresses concern regarding the use of carbon dioxide gas. Read press release about avian flu slaughter.

6^th April 2006: In light of the first possible case of avian influenza being found in Britain, Compassion in World Farming - Ireland (CIWF-Ireland) calls on Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan to ensure that any disease management procedures that become necessary in Ireland fully take into account the welfare of the birds concerned. Read press release.

20^th March 2006: CIWF holding mass lobby outside Brussels meeting of EU Farm Ministers, urging them to toughen standards in draft new EU Directive on meat chickens. A scroll representing thousands of signatures, including from people in Ireland, will be presented to Agriculture Ministers. Read press release. Info on meat chickens in Ireland.

March 2006: Read CIWF-Ireland's new information pages on electro-immobilisation. This very inhumane method of restraining cattle using electricity is banned in the UK. Electro-immobilisation is legal in the Republic of Ireland, and is currently in use here. CIWF-Ireland is calling for electro-immobilisation of living conscious animals to be banned.

January 2006: CIWF-Ireland welcomes the EU-wide ban on the tethering of pregnant sows. This inhumane system inflicts great suffering on sows, seriously restricting their movement and making them prone to sores on their necks. When CIWF-Ireland started in 1992, more than 90% of pregnant sows in the Republic of Ireland were tethered.

30^th December 2005: CIWF-Ireland welcomes in the New Year and steps up its campaign to Ban Fur Farming in the Republic of Ireland. Read CIWF-Ireland's press release on its campaign ban fur farming.

23^rd December 2005: CIWF-Ireland celebrates the decision today by the EU to immmediately end subsidies for all EU exports of live cattle to the Middle East. The subsidies will stop as of midnight tonight. This means that live cattle shipped from Ireland to the Lebanon will no longer be supported by EU subsidies. Read CIWF-Ireland's press release on the EU decision to end export refunds for live cattle exports.

20^th December 2005: CIWF-Ireland welcomes the announcement today by European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Mariann Fischer Boel that she intends to immediately eliminate refunds for all EU exports of live cattle. CIWF-Ireland says it is a disgrace that for many years, EU taxpayers have been forced to provide money to support live exports of EU cattle to the Middle East, where the animals' welfare cannot be properly protected. Read CIWF-Ireland's press release on the Commissioner's proposal to end export refunds for live cattle exports.

4^th November 2005: CIWF-Ireland, as part of a Government consultation process on the new EU animal transport Regulation, has submitted comments. Until long distance transport of animals is ended, CIWF welcomes the stricter requirements laid down by the Regulation: transport company authorisation, driver training and licensing, etc., and improved monitoring and enforcement procedures. Read CIWF-Ireland's detailed comments on the Regulation.

2nd October 2005: CIWF has a stand at a celebration of World Vegetarian Day organised by the Vegetarian Society of Ireland in Dublin. CIWF-Ireland's Director gives a talk entitled "Fur - a fashion to be ashamed of". Read CIWF's talk about fashion and fur.

27 to 29th September 2005: CIWF's stand at the National Ploughing Championships in Mogeely, Co. Cork is very well received. Attended by 179,000 people, this event is wonderful opportunity for CIWF to talk to farmers and the public about farm animal welfare.

13th July 2005: CIWF welcomes the European Parliament's adoption of a Written Declaration calling for an "immediate and permanent end" to subsidies for live cattle exports to the Middle East. No Irish MEPs sign. Read CIWF's press release about the Written Declaration on subsidies for live cattle exports to Middle East.

1st June 2005: The European Commission publishes a new Council Directive on chickens reared for meat. CIWF is disappointed that this fails to address overcrowding and the use of overly fast-growing birds Read CIWF's press release about the proposed new Directive for meat chickens.

25th May 2005: CIWF applauds the decision by the OIE (the world animal health body) to adopt global animal welfare standards. Though a voluntary code, these standards are a significant step forward. Read CIWF's press release about the animal welfare standards agreed by the OIE.

22nd May 2005: The OIE, the world animal health body, meets in Paris and CIWF urges delegates to vote "yes" to first-ever global standards for animal welfare, including transport of animals. Read CIWF's press release about the OIE meeting.

23rd March 2005: The Fur Farming (Prohibition) Bill 2004, published by Dan Boyle of the Green Party, is supported by ALL opposition parties but defeated by the Government parties with 67 votes to 50. Read Dail debate part 1 (click 'Expand All' on LHS menu to read full text)
Read Dail debate part 2

21st March 2005: Molly Breathnach joins CIWF and Respect for Animals at the Dept. of Agriculture in Dublin with miniature mink and fox toys for all TDs prior to the Dáil debate on the Green Party's Fur Farming (Prohibition) Bill 2004. The debate is big news, featuring on all national TV stations, and RTE radio “Morning Ireland”. Listen to the Morning Ireland discussion ('Greens seeking ban on fur farming').

7th March 2005:BBC Northern Ireland's popular radio programme The Stephen Nolan Show features a discussion on CIWF's Ban Fur Farming campaign. The programme's internet poll shows 96% of people in support of a ban on fur farming!

23rd February 2005: Representatives of CIWF-Ireland meet with Irish Minister for Agriculture, Mary Coughlan, to discuss farm animal welfare concerns. This was CIWF's first official meeting with an Irish Agriculture Minister.

1st January 2005: CIWF-Ireland hopes that the New Year brings us closer to an end to long distance transport of live animals for slaughter or further fattening; that, amidst growing public support in Ireland, the Government will agree to ban fur farming in the Republic of Ireland; and that all farm animals will be treated as sentient beings.

Click here for 2004 Press Releases

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