asked the Minister for Justice (a) the number of people who have been brought to court in County Donegal for breaches of the foot and mouth disease regulations, (b) the number of cases noted but where no action was taken, (c) the number of people convicted, and (d) the total amount of fines paid.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Foot and Mouth Disease Prosecutions.
132.
As on 26th January, 1968, charges had been preferred in courts in Donegal against 80 persons for breaches of the regulations, of whom 45 were convicted. The total amount of the fines imposed was £162 5s. 0d., of which £89 10s. had been paid by 26th January.
The Garda have reason to believe that breaches of the regulations were committed in Donegal by 15 other persons who were not prosecuted because they had left the jurisdiction before they could be charged.
In addition, there were two cases in County Donegal of a kind that also arose in other parts of the country— they involved school children in England—where there was reason to believe a technical offence was committed but in relation to which the Attorney General had given a general direction that prosecutions could not be justified because those concerned had reasonably believed, from the terms of an official press release, that they were exempt under the regulations.
In regard to the people where prosecutions were not proceeded with, has the Minister any information that one of those concerned was a man appointed to the National Agricultural Council by his friend Deputy Blaney, the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries?
That is not true. The Deputy is on the wrong tack there. If he asks Deputy Harte about it, he might get more precise information.
133.
asked the Minister for Justice the number of people prosecuted and convicted for infringements of the foot and mouth diseases regulations.
Garda returns covering up to and including 27th January show the following figures, in relation to the foot and mouth regulations:
|
Prosecutions |
522 |
|
Convictions |
365 |
|
Pending |
37 |
I am including, under "convictions" 86 cases dealt with under the Probation of Offenders Act—these are cases in which a formal conviction was not recorded but in which the court found the charges proved.