asked the Minister for Agriculture if his attention has been drawn to reports of a discussion in the British House of Commons as reported in Irish and English newspapers of Friday, 23rd February, 1951, during which the British Minister of Agriculture, referring to the death of 18 horses in transit by sea from Limerick to Birkenhead, said that he could not prevent atrocities of this kind if the regulations are made by Southern Ireland and, if so, whether he will state the facts connected with the occurrence to which the British Minister referred.
Ceisteanna.—Questions. Oral Answers. - Shipment of Horses.
Mr. Byrne
asked the Minister for Agriculture if his attention has been drawn to a question asked in the House of Commons, London, by Mr. Peter Freeman, M.P., to the Minister of Agriculture inquiring whether the Minister's attention had been called to a shipment of 71 horses and other animals sent from Limerick to Birkenhead early in February when 18 collapsed, died and were thrown overboard during the sea voyage, three more were found dead on arrival at Birkenhead, seven others had broken legs and other serious injuries and had to be destroyed on arrival, and if the Minister will state what steps are being taken to prevent a recurrence of these atrocities and if he will stop the traffic that causes such suffering to animals.
With your permission, a Chinn Chomhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 48 and 49 together.
I have seen the reports in question.
All horses exported from this country are, immediately prior to shipment, subjected to strict veterinary examination, and only horses which are in good condition, strong, healthy, fit to work and not aged are permitted to be exported. In addition, all vessels used for the shipment of horses must conform to prescribed conditions enforced by my Department with a view to protecting the animals against injury or unnecessary suffering.
I am satisfied that the foregoing requirements provide all practicable safeguards and were observed in regard to the shipment of 71 horses from Limerick to Birkenhead early in February. I understand, however, that unusually severe weather was unexpectedly encountered in the course of the voyage (which took 72 hours, instead of 42 in the ordinary course) and that this was the cause of the casualties which occurred. The master of the vessel has reported that none of the casualties received broken limbs or other external injury and that the horses died from exhaustion due to the long voyage under the stress of storm.
I may mention that, out of a total of 1,436 horses transported by the particular vessel involved from Limerick to Birkenhead from the beginning of August, 1949, to the end of January, 1951, there were only four casualties.
In view of the fact that statements reported in the Press as having been made by the British Minister of Agriculture are statements calculated to do damage to the prestige of this country—he referred to alleged atrocities in relation to this occurrence—will the Minister convey to the British authorities the true facts so that the mistaken impression created abroad and at home may be corrected?
Mr. Byrne
Is the Minister aware that Mr. Freeman, M.P. received a reply from the British Minister of Agriculture that these atrocities did take place and blaming the authorities in charge of the boats? The reports of the British House of Commons debate may be seen in the Library. Will the Minister say that horses and other animals shipped from here are not subjected to this treatment? These horses were being shipped to a British dealer and it was stated that this dealer had been engaged in this trade before and had been found guilty of atrocities himself. In these circumstances will the Minister ensure that horses are slaughtered here under humane conditions instead of being shipped for slaughter elsewhere?
I am much obliged to the Deputy for offering me this opportunity of saying, first of all, that I am quite sure my good friend, Mr. Tom Williams, British Minister of Agriculture, never used any language calculated to reflect on our Department of Agriculture or on any public servant of this State. It may have been his duty to refer to allegations which were made for the purpose of announcing his intention of inquiring into them, but I am quite certain he never lent the responsibility of his name to the allegations.
I am also obliged to Deputies for giving me this opportunity of clearing the character of a high-principled and excellent master mariner who has been scandalously, shamefully and fraudulently misrepresented in this business. The master of this vessel took his ship to sea with every conceivable precaution that a good sea captain could use. With your permission, Sir, I want to read his own report of what befell him. All the horses were properly accommodated. His report is as follows:—
"The vessel left Limerick for Liverpool at 3.00 a.m. on the 4th February loaded with general cargo also 71 horses, 21 cattle and 39 goats. At the time of departure a strong southerly wind prevailed and on arrival off Beagh Castle (River Shannon) we anchored awaiting favourable weather. At 9.00 a.m. the wind had moderated considerably and we proceeded towards Scattery, arriving there at 10.45 a.m. By this time the weather was calm and there was a blue sky and there was every indication of lasting fine weather. The barometer, although low, started to rise. Upon dropping our pilot I proceeded to sea. On approaching Innishterragh Island (outer Blaskets) the wind suddenly became gusty and a heavy westerly swell increased. Before we got abeam of Innishterragh there was a sudden heavy squall of rain and hail and the wind increased quickly to gale force with a high tumbling sea, and the visibility in the squalls was very poor. In the circumstances in which I was so suddenly placed it was absolutely impossible for me to turn back or run for shelter, being placed on a lee-shore. Our difficulty was to get the ship off the land and we had to steer a west course, bringing the wind and sea on the starboard bow to ease the heavy rolling and render as much comfort to the animals as possible in the heavy seaway. Between 6.00 p.m. on the Sunday until midnight several horses fell in the stalls but were eventually raised to their feet again. Five horses during this period, however, died from sheer exhaustion. From midnight onwards, until we reached the Fastnet Rock Lt. at 7.00 p.m. on the Monday 13 horses had died from exhaustion. These dead animals eventually were jettisoned in the Georges Channel. Three horses also died on arrival at Woodside Stage.
I must emphatically state that throughout the passage every care possible was taken by the officers and crew in attention to the live stock. During the heavy gale all deck hands were in attention in the cattle deck. The horses died from sheer exhaustion and casualties revealed no broken limbs or other external injuries."
I want, lastly, to say that I fully appreciate the solicitude of the Deputies and of others who have read this story, but I want to warn them not to let themselves be made unwittingly the agents of a dirty racket in this country and abroad who want to engage in a dirty rotten trade of slaughtering horses here and shipping horse meat to Europe as prime beef and, so long as I am Minister for Agriculture, they will not be let, no matter whether they get well intentioned people to believe that horses are habitually injured by sea transport or not. If they are hoping to ship any "Con Biadh" to Europe, they are going to get a disappointment.
I have no interest in that trade.
I know that, Deputy.