asked the Minister for Agriculture whether the British Ministry of Food has intimated to his Department any information regarding the supplies of live stock from this country to Great Britain when the foot-and-mouth disease has been eradicated; whether any limitation will be made in the number and type of store cattle exported in any particular period and whether fat cattle, fat sheep and fat lambs will be accepted as live stock or as dead meat.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Export of Live Stock to Great Britain.
It is understood that owing to shortage of feeding stuffs in Great Britain the British authorities propose to limit the entry into Great Britain and Northern Ireland of store cattle with less than two permanent incisor teeth showing. This restriction is to become effective as soon as the existing prohibition on the export of live cattle is relaxed.
With regard to fat stock an announcement has already been made that if there should be a glut of fat stock in Great Britain in the autumn months, such as occurred last year, restrictions similar to those of last season may be imposed.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, may we take it that, when we have a clean bill of health again, we will be permitted to export fat cattle alive to Britain?
Yes, fat cattle, without any limitation, until the autumn.