Vol. 212 No. 7
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he has yet completed his investigation into the circumstances of the death of over one thousand sheep which were being shipped from Dublin to Kuwait in October; and whether he will bring into effect regulations controlling the export of live animals to tropical areas in cases where they are likely to suffer during shipment.
62.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he has any further statement to make regarding the sheep that died on their journey to Kuwait on the vessel Cimbria.
I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 61 and 62 together.
The report of the shipping company on these losses was published by me on 13th November. I announced at the same time that I had decided that further shipments of sheep to this destination should not be authorised and that my department's veterinary staff will continue their investigations into the causes of the fatalities, in consultation with the shipping company and others concerned.
Is the Minister contemplating bringing into operation regulations to control the export of live animals to prevent a recurrence of what happened on this particular trip?
There is no necessity to bring in regulations. The shipment of all live animals is very rigidly controlled by the veterinary and inspecting staff.
These, of course, were going to tropical conditions, and there is a difference.
At the moment all shipments of sheep to Kuwait are banned.
