andMr. Cogan asked the Minister for Health the number of the 64,435 experiments without anaesthetic and the 1,323 experiments—where the animal was allowed to recover from the effects of the anaesthetic—performed in 1978 under the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876, in which there was a degree of suffering of any kind.
Written Answers. - Animal Experiments.
169.
The 64,435 experiments involved only inoculation. The other 1,323 were conducted under anaesthetic.
It is impossible to say unequivocally in any specific case either that no degree of suffering was caused or that some minimal degree of suffering may have been caused. Everything possible is done to ensure that no unnecessary suffering is caused at any time.
170.
andMr. Keating asked the Minister for Health when the Medical Research Council is expected to complete its report on the development of alternative techniques to replace animals in research work.
A report was received recently from the Medical Research Council of Ireland with some views on the feasibility of promoting research on alternative techniques to the use of live animals for medical research.
There are matters arising from these views on which I should like further information and these matters will shortly be taken up with the council.
171.
asked the Minister for Health if he has received proposals from the Council of Europe Committee of Experts on the Protection of Animals for a convention on the use of laboratory animals in tests; if so, if he will make them available to Members of the Oireachtas and to animal welfare societies, and invite their observations for consideration.
I have not received any such proposals.
Question No. 172 postponed.