asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is in a position to state whether eradication areas in connection with the elimination of tuberculous cattle are about to be established in any or all of the following counties, Derry, Tyrone, Fermanagh.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Elimination of Tuberculous Cattle.
Mr. Walsh
My responsibilities do not extend to the areas mentioned, and I regret I have no information in regard to this matter.
While I appreciate that the Minister's jurisdiction does not cover these areas would it be possible, in view of its importance to the Donegal farmers, to make some effort to find out if any such transaction is about to take place?
If he sent a halfpenny postcard to Belfast to find out. Would the Minister consider sending a postcard to somebody in Belfast, or gettingsome officer of his Department to send a postcard to somebody in Belfast, to inquire if this is being contemplated?
Mute of malice.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state whether any eradication area in connection with the elimination of tuberculous cattle is about to be established in any part of the Twenty-Six Counties; and, if so, whether, in view of its geographical position and other considerations, he will ensure that this or one such area is County Donegal.
Mr. Walsh
I am not yet in a position to give details of the proposed scheme for the elimination of tuberculous cattle, mentioned in my reply to a question by the Deputy on 25th November.
As regards the second part of the question, due consideration will be given to the position of County Donegal in relation to that of other counties but I cannot give any such undertaking as is sought in the question.
Has any area yet been selected for this scheme?
Mr. Walsh
I have told the Deputy that a scheme is being prepared for the whole country and that Donegal will participate in that scheme.
I take it that no one area has yet been fixed to start off?
Did not the Minister state at a meeting of the Fianna Fáil cumann in Piltown that he proposed to initiate a scheme in County Clare? Did he or did he not?
Mr. Walsh
Quite so.
Why then did he tell poor innocent Deputy Blaney that Donegal would come in?
Mr. Walsh
I have said that Donegal will come in under this scheme for the whole of the country.