asked the Minister for Agriculture if in view of the failure of the efforts of his Department to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease he will take steps to have appointed a select committee of Dáil Eireann to investigate and report to the Dáil on (1) the operations of the various Governmental officials concerned in the eradication of the epidemic, and (2) the extent to which the general public co-operated with his Department, and to make recommendations as to the best methods of coping with a similar epidemic in the future.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Foot-and-Mouth Disease.
I do not agree that my Department has failed to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease. The disease has been eradicated in Counties Donegal, Meath, Dublin, Wicklow, Offaly, Limerick and Kerry and in County Tipperary (North Riding), and Laoighis, but for the moment a small area in each of the latter counties bordering on Counties Tipperary (South Riding) and Kilkenny is held as a precautionary measure. In these circumstances I am not prepared to adopt the suggestions made by the Deputy. The question of the measures which should be taken to deal with similar outbreaks in the future will receive the fullest consideration.
It is now happily true that the outbreak is well in hand?
I believe so.