To ask the Minister for Agriculture what reply, if any, he has received from the British Minister for Agriculture to his communication explaining the clean bill of health amongst the live stock in Ireland, and asking for the raising of the Embargo placed on the shipment of Irish cattle to Great Britain.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. - CATTLE EMBARGO.
MICHEAL O DUBHGHAILL
Mr. KEVIN O'HIGGINS
(in the absence of the Minister of Agriculture) replied: The Minister of Agriculture received on the 29th ultimo the following observations of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, London, on the letter sent by him on the subject of the restrictions on the movement of Irish animals in Great Britain:—
"My Minister would like to make it quite clear that the existing restrictions have not been imposed, and are not being maintained, because of any suspicion of the existence of foot and mouth disease in Ireland. This Department accepts without reservation that there has been no such disease in Ireland for upwards of twelve months. The object of the Ministry's regulations is rather to prevent the rushing of Irish stores from market to market in this country, as was the custom before the widespread outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Great Britain which commenced in January last. This stampeding of Irish stores was responsible to a large extent for the rapid spread of the disease from market to market, not because the Irish stock themselves were affected, but because they acquired infection on arrival in this country, and carried it with them through a number of markets within a very short space of time. In the interests of stock-owners generally the Ministry is strongly of opinion that the arrangements under which it was possible for the disease to be spread in such a manner should be terminated, and it has accordingly been decided to take such steps as will tend to shift the trade into a form of dealing whereby the animals make only one move from the port or special market to the farm on which they remain. I may point out that such a step will be all to the good as far as the condition of Irish stores goes, and that it has already met with the approval of the Irish traders who send their stock to Glasgow. The whole question is, however, being considered by the Departmental Committee at present engaged in investigating the cause of the January outbreak and the measure available for dealing with the disease generally in this country. At the same time I am to take this opportunity of assuring you that the position of the Irish trader will be carefully considered when the Ministry formulates its permanent measure for controlling the movement of stock into and within Great Britain with the object of preventing a recurrence of the disastrous consequences which followed from the spread of the disease in the beginning of this year.
"Under the circumstances as they stand the Minister does not see his way to alter the provision made in the Irish Animals Order of 1922 for the establishment of special markets for the exposure of Irish animals. The Ministry has, however, by an Order, reduced the period of detention on movement from a landing place or from a special market from 13 days to 6 days, which it is hoped will go far to remove the disabilities under which traders in Irish animals at present suffer."
MICHEAL O DUBHGHAILL
May I supplement that question by asking the Minister if he is aware that a large deputation of Scottish farmers recently waited on the Minister for Agriculture in England asking him to remove this embargo, and he has replied something to the same effect as the Minister? The deputation would not at all take that answer, and say at present they want 120,000 store cattle.
Mr. KEVIN O'HIGGINS
I have some additional particulars for the information of the Deputy. In the Irish Press of the 30th September a report appeared dealing with a deputation from the Salford Markets Committee which visited the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, London, with reference to the sale of live Irish cattle at Salford Market. It was stated in this report that Sir Stewart Stockman, Chief Veterinary Officer of the Ministry, stated that the Ministry had now decided on a new policy, under which all markets in Great Britain would be open for the reception of Irish animals upon the same day as home bred stock. Yesterday the Veterinary Branch of the Department of Agriculture addressed a wire to the Ministry in London referring to this report, and asking for official information. The Ministry have replied as follows:—
"Your telegram marketing Irish animals matter under consideration; no order yet made; Press statement unauthorised."