Animal rights activists upped their campaign against fur farming today demanding the introduction of a ban.
The Animal Rights Action Network (Aran) called for the practice to be outlawed in the new Animal Welfare Bill, which is currently being drawn up.
More than 50 Aran members picketed the Department of Agriculture offices in Dublin with graphic images of the fur trade.
"Minister [for Agriculture Mary] Coughlan is turning a blind eye to animal suffering on Irish fur farms," Aran spokesman Stephan Wymore said. "With the very best intentions, animal welfare standards that provide for the needs of mink and foxes cannot be met, these animals are suffering terribly.
"So far the Irish government has taken a back road on animal welfare and it's only getting worse."
A spokesman for the Department of Agriculture said the Animal Welfare Bill, which was agreed in the Programme for Government, was at the earliest stage. It could be the end of the year before it is ready.
Aran claimed there are five fur farms in the country holding up to 170,000 mink, arctic and silver fox at any time. The animals are reared for six months and killed.
The UK and Austria have already outlawed fur farming on welfare grounds.
Meanwhile, one of Ireland's most exclusive department stores, Brown Thomas, is to stop selling fur next month.