Will the Minister say why a licence should be given to anybody to keep those pests?
In Committee on Finance. - Musk Rats Bill, 1933—Committee.
The Dáil went into Committee on the Musk Rats Bill.
Sections Nos. 1 to 8 inclusive agreed to.
Question proposed: "That Section 9 stand part of the Bill."
As I explained on Second Reading, we might find it necessary for educational purposes in such places as the Zoological Gardens or the laboratories to have them in order to find the most effectual way of getting rid of them.
Are many licences being made?
Dr. Ryan
Not many.
Does the Minister propose to grant many?
Dr. Ryan
I only propose to grant them to such places as the Zoological Gardens or research laboratories.
Has there been any applications or suggestions that such a section should be put into the Bill?
Dr. Ryan
There have been no applications.
Why make an exception then if we do not want to allow these pests in?
Dr. Ryan
They are in the country, and it may be necessary to find an effective way of getting rid of them.
Question put and agreed to.
Question proposed: "That Section 10 stand part of the Bill."
Here the words "any person may apply" occur.
Dr. Ryan
Yes. It is very hard to foretell what places might be necessary to keep them for investigation purposes.
Cannot the Zoological Gardens carry on without musk rats? Cannot research work be carried on without the musk rat? I thought the harmless guinea pig was generally the object for research work. Is it necessary, for scientific research, to experiment upon musk rats? Is it not better to keep them out altogether?
Dr. Ryan
It is not necessary to keep musk rats for ordinary scientific observation, but supposing we are told it is necessary to get rid of them it might be necessary to take them into the laboratory for observation.
In order to discover the bacilli that might create an incurable disease amongst them; that is a different matter.
Question put and agreed to.
Sections 11 to 38 inclusive agreed to.
Title agreed to.