asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he will instruct the Department's Inspector at Cork to approach the County Council and arrange with that body for the early supply to the Chief Superintendents of the Gárda Síochána in Cork City and County of the necessary equipment to enable members of the Gárda appointed many months ago to carry out their important duties under the Food and Drugs and Weights and Measures Acts.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - FOOD AND DRUGS AND WEIGHTS AND MEASURES ACTS.
This matter is being referred to my Department's Inspector with a view to securing that the Cork County Council will provide the Gárda Síochána in the County with the necessary equipment to carry out their duties under the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts. The matter is also being brought under the notice of the Commissioner for Cork County Borough. The Department of Industry and Commerce have informed me that so far as weights and measures standards for the County are concerned, the necessary equipment was completed in November last and it is understood from reports received that the Inspectors have been working actively since that time. So far as Cork City is concerned, I am informed that the Corporation made a contract for equipment separate from the inclusive contract entered into by every other County and Borough Council and that the full equipment has not yet been completed. Sufficient local sub-standards were, however, supplied from other sources to enable the Inspector to start work over four months ago, and on the 29th of last month he reported that a considerable area of the City was finished. It is understood that, owing to the fact that the Weights and Measures Acts were in abeyance for four years, the accumulation of arrears was very substantial and that progress is necessarily slow.