asked the Minister for Agriculture (a) what facilities, if any, are available at the National Stud for carrying out tests on mares going into the stud for mating, (b) the number of veterinary officers working at the stud, (c) if it is proposed to introduce new regulations governing the intake of mares entering the stud, and (d) if he considers it necessary to provide modern laboratory facilities and an increased laboratory staff to deal with matters of equine health at the stud.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - National Stud Facilities.
48.
The National Stud is administered and operated by the Irish National Stud Company Limited, which was established under the National Stud Act, 1945.
I am informed that all mares visiting the stud are seen and inspected on arrival by the company's resident manager, who is a veterinary surgeon, and at frequent intervals thereafter. Veterinary treatment of mares visiting the stud is normally a matter for arrangement between the owners and their veterinary surgeons, and each owner nominates in advance the veterinary practitioner who should attend his or her mare in case of need; this results in the occasional attendance at the stud of some sixteen veterinary surgeons in private practice. In normal circumstances other veterinary personnel are not employed at the stud. In the very exceptional circumstances that have prevailed there for the past few weeks, however, two officers of my Department's Veterinary Research Laboratory have been working at the stud to advise and assist in disease-control measures including movement control.
Where veterinary examination of mares at the stud indicates the need for laboratory investigation, this can be carried out at my Department's Veterinary Research Laboratory, at the Veterinary College, or in the practitioner's own laboratory. I am advised that the laboratory facilities at present available are adequate and that it is not considered necessary that special laboratory facilities should be provided at the National Stud.
I am also informed that the Irish National Stud Company Limited is considering, in the light of recent events, the question of revising the arrangements regarding acceptance of mares at the stud.