asked the Minister for Health (1) the total number of experiments on live animals for the purposes of (a) research and (b) medical investigations carried out in the Republic in each of the years 1958 and 1961 inclusive, (2) the number in respect of (a) carried out with an anaesthetic and without, and the number of animals destroyed before recovery from the anaesthetics when administered, and (3) the total number of inspectors engaged in the supervision of such work.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Experiments on Live Animals.
8.
The differentiation made by the Deputy at (1) in his question regarding experiments for the purposes of (a) research and (b) medical investigations is not understood, as the two classifications mentioned are not mutually exclusive. With regard to (3) of the question, up to October last there was one inspector formally appointed under the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876, engaged on this work who had the assistance of medical inspectors of my Department as occasion arose. As from that time, the work has been assigned to medical inspectors of my Department.
The compilation of information on the lines of that requested at (2) has been put in hands and if the Deputy will repeat that part of the question a few weeks hence I hope to be able to furnish the information requested, subject to the qualification mentioned in regard to part (1) of the question.