asked the Minister for Lands and Agriculture if he is aware of the losses sustained by the farming and trading community owing to the operations of the Tuberculosis Order of 1925 on the export of Irish cows; that all classes of cows suspected of tuberculosis of the udder, etc., are stopped at the ports of embarkation by the Department's veterinary inspectors; that on Sunday, 23rd October, 1927, the ss. Bandon, from Cork, arrived in Birkenhead with a cargo of livestock, that out of the number of cattle on board, twelve would not be allowed to land by the portal inspector at Birkenhead, and had to be slaughtered on board; that of the twelve slaughtered five were in-calf cows, that a store cow belonging to the same owners was also slaughtered, and that the six carcases were passed as being fit for human consumption; that by the slaughter of these animals the owners have lost over £100, less salvage realised, and what steps the Minister proposes to take in this matter to safeguard this important industry.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - EXPORT OF IRISH COWS.
Mr. HOGAN
The number of in-calf animals concerned on the particular occasion mentioned appears to have been six, not five; otherwise the facts are generally as stated in the question. As, in the opinion of the British Veterinary Officer, the twelve cattle referred to suffered from indurated udder, he was acting within his powers under the Tuberculosis Order, 1925, in disallowing the landing of these animals alive.
Recently, notwithstanding increased vigilance on the part of the Department's Veterinary Officers to prevent the shipment of any animals coming within the scope of the prohibition of landing provisions, a number of cattle shipped from other ports as well as Cork have failed to pass in Great Britain the pre-landing inspection, and have, accordingly, been prevented from landing there. The Department are fully alive to the hardship resulting from the rejection of in-calf and other cows, and have under consideration the feasibility of allowing such animals to be returned, if the owner so desires. This, with the whole question of the effect of the British regulations on the cattle industry of this country, is receiving close attention.
Is the Minister aware that cattle landed in the daytime are subjected to this examination, but that cattle landed in the night-time are not subjected to this examination, and are landed free without any further examination? Would the Minister take steps to negotiate with the British Minister for Agriculture so that he will direct that the official inspector at Birkenhead will not be allowed to reject cattle at this particular time after the cattle had been held up by this official there? The owner of the cattle is suffering a certain amount of loss when it is found that these cattle are afterwards proved unfit for human consumption, and will the Minister see that this will not be allowed to be proceeded with?
Mr. HOGAN
The Deputy can take it that all cattle landed at Birkenhead, whether they land in the day or at night, are inspected at some point. Possibly at night the cattle are allowed in to some place of quarantine for the sake of convenience, but they are inspected afterwards. The fact is that the official at Birkenhead can reject cattle not only for tuberculosis, but for any indication of tuberculosis, and these cattle are being rejected—they are doing that, rejecting them on the grounds of indurated udders. It does not affect the decision that the cattle are afterwards found not to be suffering from tuberculosis. This is a hardship to the cow trade, but it is an example of one of the English markets being closed to us. The English have a right to close their markets to us if they wish.
Would the Minister be prepared to receive a deputation from the United Cattle Trade Association to enable them to put the peculiar disadvantages they suffer in connection with this matter before the Minister?
Mr. HOGAN
I have had constant contact with the Cattle Trade Association on this matter, and this is not a new question. We are all agreed as to the facts of the position.
Is the Minister agreed that peculiar cases have happened lately that might give him a lever to use on the other side?
Mr. HOGAN
Questions were asked in the Dáil last year as to why the veterinary inspector stopped so many cattle on this side and was so strict in his examination of cattle, and the answer was that if the veterinary inspectors on the other side would exercise their rights and refuse to allow the cattle in, they were not strict enough apparently, because it now appears that the veterinary inspectors on the other side have exercised their rights and are killing the cattle before landing. I agree that the situation has so changed to this extent that the veterinary inspectors on the other side have got more strict, and there is quite a serious situation as the result.
Would the Minister still be inclined to receive a deputation?
Mr. HOGAN
Yes, if there is anything new. I am in constant touch. They are all at the market every Thursday and I see them.
An official deputation, I meant.