asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware that, as a result of the export of live horses for slaughter from this country, there is at present unemployment and short-time working at the Cahir horsemeat processing factory, County Tipperary; and whether he will now take steps to prohibit the export of all live horses for slaughter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers - Cahir Horsemeat Factory.
28.
I do not agree with the Deputy's statement, and I do not propose to alter the export conditions which came into effect on 4th March, 1963.
May I ask the Minister if he would elaborate a little on the answer to that question and say why?
I have, in fact, elaborated on this question on a number of occasions, even very recently. I do not want to refuse the Deputy's request now but if the Deputy consults the records of the House for the past couple of weeks, he will find that I gave my reason and, I think, a fairly adequate reason, for the decision I have made. If the Deputy wishes, he could raise the matter with me on some other occasion. It is not a matter into which we can easily go at present.