asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he will state if 70 bulls were inspected at Effin, Co. Limerick, on 20th February, 1929, and if 50 were rejected; if he is aware that grave dissatisfaction exists among the farmers in the district owing to the scarcity of bulls, and if he would order a re-inspection.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Premium Bulls in County Limerick.
At Effin centre on 20th ultimo sixty bulls were presented for inspection under the Live Stock Breeding Act. In the case of twenty-two bulls the Inspector recommended that licences should be issued, and in the remaining thirty-eight cases he recommended the refusal of licences. I do not propose to order a re-inspection, as the owner of a bull in respect of which a licence has been refused is entitled under Section 15 of the Act to apply for a re-examination of the bull by a referee if he so desires.
Is the Minister aware that considerable expense and inconvenience will be caused to the farmers of Knocklong, Ballylanders, Galbally, Glenroe, Kilfinane, Effin and Kilmallock districts because a large number of bulls were rejected at the recent inspections? I think the Minister ought to look closely into the matter and see if the number of bulls which has been passed is sufficient for the requirements of the farmers in those areas. My information is that in one area which is practically a mile and a half long by half a mile wide there is only one registered bull.
Mr. Hogan
The real question appears to me to be whether the bulls were up to the standard or not. If they were in fact not up to the standard they should be rejected. On the other hand, if the owners think that they were, there is a simple way of having the case re-tried, and if applications are made in any of these cases for a referee I will agree.
Might I ask who fixes the standard?
Mr. Hogan
The Department of Agriculture.
I thought it might be the premium bull owners.