asked the Minister for Agriculture if he has received applications or granted any licences for the slaughter of horses for export; and if he will state the location of premises licensed for slaughter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Slaughter of Horses for Export.
19.
One premises, situated at Ballyclough, Castletroy, County Limerick, has been licensed for the slaughter of horses for export. This is the only premises in respect of which an application for such a licence has been received.
May I enquire is there any record of a horse being slaughtered there or of any horse carcase being exported from this country?
I have not been asked that question.
You have been.
I am asking the Minister now and trusting to the Minister's customary courtesy for a reply.
Why put a hand on the Deputy's mouth like that?
Because he was going to answer the Minister in the way the Minister was answering me.
The question was:—
To ask the Minister for Agriculture if he has received applications or granted any licences for the slaughter of horses for export; and if he will state the location of premises licensed for slaughter.
The reply was:
One premises, situated at Ballyclough, Castletroy, County Limerick, has been licensed for the slaughter of horses for export. This is the only premises in respect of which an application for such a licence has been received.
I asked the Minister a supplementary question: Are there any horses being slaughtered on foot of his licence or has any horse carcase been exported in pursuit of that licence?
That is a separate question.
That is a separate question.
I know well why he will not answer. After stamping the country pleading for home slaughter of horses, not a single horse was slaughtered. And this after all the slaughtered horses ridden round Rathmines by the Minister for Health.
If the Deputy is anxious to enter into this business and presents suitable premises, we shall give him a licence.
I am sure you would. It is like what you would do, export slaughtered horses without shipping a single carcase.
We are not anxious.
The Minister's contribution to increased agricultural production is to export slaughtered horses that are never slaughtered nor ever will be.
Order.