An animal-rights group held a protest against fur farming outside the Dáil today.
Compassion in World Farming (CiWF) handed over a petition containing thousands of signatures to the Department of Agriculture.
The group says there are six mink farms in the State and two farms raising foxes for fur that it claims should be outlawed.
Ms Mary-Anne Bartlett, Irish Director of CiWF told ireland.com:"We had two people dressed as foxes in cages to show how these animals are kept on the farms. Farmed fur animals are essentially still wild creatures and intensive farming methods do not give them the conditions they need."
"Foxes are kept in cages four feet by four feet and 28 inches high," she said. "There are hundreds of animals crowded together - just to make a frivolous fashion item that we don't need."
Fur farming is illegal in Northern Ireland, Britain and Austria and is being phased out in Italy.
The group is encouraging shoppers not to buy clothing or accessories with fur trimmings this Christmas. "Each one represents the suffering of many animals."