asked the Minister for Agriculture if his attention has been drawn to a report of 11th February, 1960 that of the thirteen Irish horses sent to the Paris Meat Market in a cattle train two arrived dead of cold and exhaustion, a third had to be shot immediately and two were injured and in great pain; that the journey to Dieppe was so rough that the ship took seventy hours instead of fortyfour; and that on arrival the horses were put into railway trucks in the morning and did not reach Paris until late the same night; whether he has made any investigation into the matter; and if he will make a statement.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Treatment of Horses Sent to Paris Meat Market.
45.
I have seen the report referred to by the Deputy. I am informed that the duration of the voyage was 64 hours and that all the horses arrived at Dieppe in good condition.
In so far as the allegations in the report relate to matters which are the concern of the French authorities, the Deputy is, no doubt, aware, that an inquiry concerning the conditions of handling, in France, of horses for slaughter has been undertaken by those authorities.