asked the Minister for Lands and Agriculture whether he is aware that on February 22nd, 1928, Michael Murphy, Court, Monamolin, County Wexford, consulted his veterinary surgeon on the condition of his pigs, some of them having died; that the veterinary surgeon returned on February 23rd, took away certain organs of the dead pigs, and reported the matter to the Department; that an Inspector from the Department arrived on March 2nd, and again removed organs of the dead pigs for examination; that on March 9th a second Inspector arrived and pronounced swine fever as the cause of death; that between February 22nd and March 9th fourteen pigs died; that the disease was not diagnosed until all had died, except one, and, consequently, Murphy was compensated for one pig only: that the Inspector promised fluid without delay for disinfection; that the fluid was only supplied after repeated applications extending over two months; that Murphy was promised by the Inspector a permit to stock pigs on May 17th, but has not yet received it; and whether, in view of all the circumstances, the Minister is prepared to compensate Murphy for the fifteen pigs which died after the report had been sent in, and give him without further delay a permit to re-stock.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - SWINE FEVER—WEXFORD FARMER'S LOSSES.
The facts, I find, are that this case was not reported until 22nd February, and that when Mr. Murphy's premises were visited on the following day, there were only 13 swine on the premises, of which nine were already dead. The Laboratory examination of the organs showed that the cause of death was swine fever, and the outbreak thus confirmed was dealt with as expeditiously as possible, having regard to the exceptionally heavy demands on the Department's Inspectorate owing to the outbreak of foot and mouth disease which occurred in Wexford about the same time. On 2nd March, when a Departmental Inspector visited the premises again, he found only one pig alive. This pig was slaughtered, and the statutory proportion of its value paid to Mr. Murphy by way of compensation, together with the sum agreed on for cleansing and disinfecting his premises. There was some delay in sending disinfectants to complete the process of disinfection, but it is not the practice to permit re-stocking immediately after disinfection. Permission to re-stock was issued on 22nd instant. The Department have no power to pay compensation in respect of swine that die.
Does the Minister deny that part of the question which states that 14 pigs were alive when the Inspector first visited?
Mr. HOGAN
I do, and I will tell the Deputy why. The outbreak was reported on the 22nd, and at that time practically all the Veterinary Inspectors were taken up with foot and mouth disease. An outside Veterinary Inspector was instructed to visit—a temporary man employed for that purpose on the 23rd—that is the Inspector referred to here. On that occasion out of 13 pigs, 9 were dead and the rest on the point of death. That is my information.
Is it not a fact that 14 were alive and 21 dead?
Mr. HOGAN
The information I have is that there were only 13 swine on the premises on the 23rd, of which 9 were already dead. That is my information.
What was the date that the Department definitely confirmed swine fever?
Mr. HOGAN
The outbreak was reported on the 22nd. A veterinary surgeon in the County Wexford was instructed by the Department to go to the premises on the 23rd. He could be regarded for all practical purposes as the Department's veterinary surgeon; he was instructed by the Department. We had no veterinary surgeon to spare as foot and mouth disease had broken out. The Deputy can take it that he was acting for the Deparment. It was confirmed on the 26th. When the veterinary surgeon from the Department visited the premises there was only one pig alive.
According to Murphy's statement it was not confirmed until the 9th March. If confirmed on 26th February would it not be fair to pay him for any pigs that died from that date on?
Mr. HOGAN
It was confirmed by post mortem here in Dublin at the laboratory on the 26th February. With the greatest possible expedition that confirmation would get to Wexford on the 27th or 28th. In fact, the confirmation did not reach Wexford until the 2nd. The veterinary surgeon was not sent down until the 2nd. That was due to the extraordinary circumstances of the time; to the fact that there was an acute outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Wexford and, in addition, a very acute outbreak of swine fever in County Dublin. There was no unreasonable delay in the circumstances. There was no doubt that the farmer himself was very much to blame. He admitted to the veterinary surgeon at the time that the pigs were suffering from something very like swine fever, yet he did not report it until nine were dead and four on the point of death. There is no power in law to pay once the pigs have died.
If there was power it would be a little quick.
Mr. HOGAN
In the circumstances it was not too slow.
Especially as there were dozens of veterinary surgeons in the vicinity.
Mr. HOGAN
They had enough to do.