asked the Minister for Agriculture if his attention has been directed to the articles appearing in an English newspaper which give an eye-witness account of the horrible conditions attending the export of Irish horses to the Continent and their final slaughter and if, in view of the heartbreaking cruelty and suffering described therein, he will take steps to end this stain on our national reputation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Export of Horses for Slaughter.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if his attention has been directed to a series of articles appearing in an English daily newspaper in which it is stated that 700 live horses are exported weekly from this country and describing the conditions under which they are transported and under which they are finally slaughtered; if he will state whether those statements are correct; and, if so, whether he will take immediate steps to prohibit further exports of horses for slaughter and substitute for it a frozen meat trade.
I propose, with your permission, a Chinn Chomhairle, to take Questions Nos. 33 and 34 together.
I have read the articles referred to. There is no justification for the suggestions that there is any cruelty whatever attributable to any flaw in the procedure or regulations of my Department in regard to the transport of animals. Our transit regulations conform to the highest international standards, and are strictly applied. The implication that the national reputation is stained by the trade in horses is part of the general sensationalism of the articles and is not warranted by the facts. I do not propose to stop the export trade in horses, and I have repeatedly explained the reasons why I am not prepared to allow the export of horse flesh for human consumption.
There is so much ground covered by these highly-coloured articles that it would be impossible to deal with them in the course of a reply to a parliamentary question without unduly holding up the business of the House. I propose, however, to deal more fully with some of these points in a letter which I intend to send to the Deputies, and copies of which I will send to the other members of the House and to the newspapers.
Does the Minister really think that these reports which have come from so many sources about the cruelty and suffering which horses are being subjected to are sensationalism and is he standing over a trade which, while it may be valuable to the country, is, in the opinion of many of our citizens, doing us no good?
Mr. Walsh
I understand that many of the photographs and articles written are creating a sensation in the country and I know there is no justification for many of the sensational stories that are being written. I know further that, so far as the transport of animals from this country is concerned, we have as high a standard as any other country in the world. As a matter of fact, there has been no objection, so far as I understand, with regard to the transport of animals by sea. If there were, it would be a matter for the Government to decide on not exporting any horses, racehorses or otherwise.
Is it not a fact that many horses have died on the voyage and have been thrown overboard and that they have been humanely shot on board in order to prevent suffering to them? Does the Minister really maintain that these accounts are not true?
Mr. Walsh
The Minister investigated the matter before and replied here that there was no justification for the statements made in connection with a number of horses that died on board.
Would the Minister, before writing the letter he refers to, inquire into the method by which exported horses are killed in Britain and the length of time it takes to bleed a horse so that its flesh can be used for human consumption and sold to the British public as veal?
I find the answers given by the Minister to this and to other questions put forward on this subject most unsatisfactory. We cannot possibly continue to dismiss these accounts as sensationalism or sectional interest. There is a widespread public indignation throughout the city and in many parts of the country, which has now extended to England and to the Continent and I propose to put down a motion with regard to this traffic so that the House will have an opportunity of discussing it.
Mr. Byrne
Does the Minister in any way doubt the accuracy of the reports supplied to him and to Deputies by the various organisations concerned with the prevention of cruelty to animals?
Can the Minister produce any evidence to show that the establishment of a factory for the processing of horse flesh in this country would be in any way injurious to the beef trade?
Does the Minister not agree that the export of horse flesh would be in no way injurious to our general export of meat, provided it was suitably labelled? The consumption of horse flesh on the Continent is not a recent thing. Horse flesh has been a staple diet on the Continent for the past 50 years. If the 700 horses we export per week were slaughtered at home, whether these articles are true or untrue, it would mean that we would have the benefit of the byproducts and the employment it would give would be of considerable advantage to the country, plus the fact that it would stop——
The Deputy is making a speech and not asking a question.
Mr. Dockrell
In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the Minister's reply I ask your permission, Sir, to raise this matter on the Adjournment. I do so for the further reason that it will give the Minister an opportunity of making the statement which he wishes to make.