asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will provide quarantine facilities at Spike Island to enable the safe import of pedigree Devon cattle.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Pedigree Cattle Imports.
21.
I am prepared to permit the importation of some pedigree South Devon cattle from Britain for trial purposes subject to their prior inspection by officers of my Department as to suitability and to their satisfying the necessary veterinary import requirements.
Livestock for import into this country from Britain are required to undergo quarantine prior to import and are not subjected to further quarantine following arrival in this country. Accordingly the use of Spike Island quarantine station for such imports does not arise.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary see to it that applications for permission to import these cattle are now dealt with, as apparently a decision has been made that they will be allowed in? There are some applications lying in the Department for some considerable time.
There are two types of South Devon cattle.