I move amendment No. 1:—
In page 6 to delete lines 24 to 31 inclusive (Section 10).
The deletion of the section is consequent on the insertion of Section 11 on the Committee Stage. It is only a drafting amendment.
Slaughter of Animals Bill, 1935—Report Stage.
Amendment No. 1 agreed to.
I move amendment No. 2:—
In page 7 to delete lines 12 to 25 inclusive (Section 14 (3)).
This amendment is the result of the discussion on the Committee Stage where I undertook, on a general desire of the House, to delete the sub-section mentioned.
Amendment No. 2 agreed to.
I move amendment No. 3:—
In page 7, line 47, Section 16 (2), before the word "Board" to insert the words "Chief Rabbi of the Irish Free State for the time being or in his absence by the" and in the same line to delete the word "the" where it secondly occurs.
I do not know whether or not the Dáil would like an explanation of this amendment, but perhaps it would be just as well to give the reason why I moved it. In accordance with the Mosaic law, the Chief Rabbi is the person who issues the order to slaughter. This Order is issued under the authority of the Chief Rabbi, who can, from time to time, withdraw that authority if he gives reason for its withdrawal, and delegate it to somebody else. Consequently, in order to make the part of the Act, to which this section applies, conform with this procedure, I have introduced this amendment, and I hope that the Parliamentary Secretary will see his way to agree to it. There is just another slight amendment in connection with the word "the." It is for the purpose of making the section read.
As far as we are concerned, if the amendment is required by the Mosaic law to be inserted, we are in entire agreement. But the Deputy adverted to the fact that his amendment substituted the words "Chief Rabbi of the Irish Free State for the time being or in his absence by the," the word "the" should not appear; perhaps he could explain that.
I am afraid the Deputy must have misheard what I said. I said the Chief Rabbi in accordance with the Mosaic law is the person who issues the orders to slaughter. The Chief Rabbi may be absent, and during his absence he can delegate his authority to this Board.
Amendment agreed to.
I move amendment No. 4:—
In page 9 to delete lines 22 to 28 inclusive (Section 19 (1)) and substitute therefor the following sub-section:—
(1) Whenever an offence under any other section in this Part of this Act has been committed, the owner or proprietor of the slaughter-house in which the act whether of commission or omission constituting such offence was done shall, unless such owner or proprietor himself actually did the said act, be guilty of such offence in addition to the person who actually did the said act."
This is merely a re-drafting of the existing section consequent on the acceptance of the amendments moved in Committee Stage by Deputy Brennan. There is no new principle involved.
Amendment agreed to.
I move amendment No. 5:—
In page 9, line 38, Section 20 (1) to delete the word "except" and substitute the words "unless he is a registered veterinary surgeon or".
The object of this amendment is to exempt a veterinary surgeon from taking out a licence for killing animals in the course of his duties. As Deputies are aware, many veterinary surgeons already possess these instruments as part of their ordinary equipment, and when our attention was drawn to the matter we had to concede that it would be a hardship to ask a veterinary surgeon to apply for a licence the same as any slaughter-house owner.
Amendment agreed to.
Question—"That the Bill be received for final consideration"—put and agreed to.
If there is no objection I would like to take the Final Stage to-day.
Question—"That the Bill do now pass"—put and agreed to.