Fur farming in Ireland will soon come to an end after the bill to ban the practice passed final stage debate in the Seanad last night.
The bill now goes to President Michael D Higgins and if signed, will become law.
The legislation prohibits the breeding, rearing or keeping of animals solely for the sale or manufacture of products from skin or fur.
It revokes existing fur farming licences and provides compensation for the closure of the three fur farms operating in the State, which are located in Co Laois, Co Kerry and Co Donegal.
The fur farmers will be compensated for income loss, disposal costs of mink, demolition of fur farm infrastructure and other related costs.
Fur farming has long been a contentious issue in Ireland, with animal welfare groups deploring the breeding and killing of mink solely for their fur.
Over the years, some activists have gone to farms to release mink from their cages, including in Donegal in 2010, where up to 5,000 mink were released, many of which escaped into the wild.
As well as animal welfare groups, the Green Party has long campaigned for the banning of fur farming and the passage of the Bill has been welcomed by Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture Senator Pippa Hackett.
"I am delighted to see this progressive and historic development come to pass," she said.
"The Green Party has campaigned on this issue for many years. Banning fur farming is a vital step in the protection of animal welfare and puts us in line with similar legislation being implemented across Europe."
