asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware that many people with stock in affected areas are suffering serious hardship and loss by reason of the fact that while they require to move the stock in order to facilitate tillage operations or in order to get feeding and water, they are prevented from doing so, and whether with a view to relieving these hardships and avoiding these losses he will make arrangements that stock can be moved in such cases under suitable supervision.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Removal of Stock.
I am aware that the restrictions on the movement of live stock in the affected areas are causing hardship and inconvenience to stock owners. These restrictions are, however, a very essential part of the precautionary measures against the spread of infection and, owing to the uncertainty of the disease position, I cannot see my way to modify them until I am satisfied that no risk would be involved. The question of movement in special circumstances is receiving consideration, but the Deputy will realise the difficulty of ensuring proper supervision of such movements over the wide area in which it has been necessary to impose restrictions.
Is the Minister aware that if he does not make the necessary provision to enable stock to be removed from their winter quarters to the good lands of Meath and Kildare, there will be a serious shortage of beef in May and June? A man named Mr. Elliot, of Oldtown, got a permit to move 12 cattle to certain meadows in County Meath on the 12th March and they were removed that day. Why is he singled out for a permit while the people in Athboy who have cattle starving cannot move them three or four fields away? There will be no beef in the months of May or June if the Minister does not allow stock to go on to the good lands of Meath or Kildare.
I had no notice of the case referred to by Deputy Fagan and I do not know whether such a movement was permitted or whether there were special circumstances which justified it. There is serious danger in moving stock in those areas.
If the Minister cannot grant facilities for the movement of in-fed cattle what does he propose to do with them? Does he propose to shoot them? They are going to starve if they are not shifted and the only alternative is to shoot them. What does the Minister propose to do?
The Deputy should bear that in mind when he is talking about the Government being too lax.
We shall deal with that in the proper place.
I wish you would deal with it in the proper place.
Will you answer the question?
I have answered it.
You have not.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that while the Land Commission have recently brought consignments of cattle from Mayo to Kilcock, Trim and Duleek, places which are in an infected area, farmers in infected areas are prevented from moving stock in a like manner from outside; and if he will arrange to remove this restriction and thereby prevent the losses that some farmers are suffering at present.
In connection with the transfer in February and March by the Land Commission of group migrants in County Mayo to new holdings in Counties Kildare and Meath I agreed to movement of livestock, the property of those migrants. These movements were, however, allowed only to places which were not within five miles of any infected farm and they were subject to very stringent conditions as to transport under the direct supervision of the Land Commission. The animals were conveyed in clean disinfected railway wagons to the stations in Kildare and Meath and in clean disinfected lorries from those stations to the holdings. Similar applications received from individual migrants were not entertained as the Land Commission were not prepared to supervise the transfer arrangements.
If the Minister thinks it right to grant these facilities to the Land Commission, would he not extend them to farmers outside the five-mile radius who are willing to disinfect the lorries under the Department's supervision?
That is being considered at the moment. These cattle were coming from outside the affected area and that is less dangerous than when the position is the other way around.
What is the difference between cattle from a healthy farm and cattle coming from an area outside the affected area?