andMrs. E. Desmond asked the Minister for Health if, in view of the conflicting expert scientific opinion as to their usefulness and justification, he will in future refuse to grant licences for the performance of draize and LD50 tests.
650.
Written Answers. - Draize and LD50 Tests.
649.
andMrs. E. Desmond asked the Minister for Health whether any licences have been issued by his Department during the past five years under the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876, for the performance of the draize or LD50 tests.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 649 and 650 together. Applications for licences under the Cruelty to Animals Act have not been in a form which would enable me to indicate definitively the number of draize or LD50 tests carried out during the past five years. The application form is being revised to provide for specific details of any such tests proposed and licences will be issued only if compelling reasons for the tests are shown.