asked the Minister for Health the precautions taken by his Department to prevent rats entering the country from fishing vessels either Irish or foreign owned.
54.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Control of Rats.
52.
asked the Minister for Health the precautions taken at sea ports and air ports to prevent rats entering this country from Britain and elsewhere, and the additional precautions, if any, taken in recent years.
Mr. O'Malley
I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 52 and 54 together.
The precautions taken at sea ports and air ports to prevent rat immigration are those laid down in the International Sanitary Regulations of the World Health Organisation, adopted by this country in 1951. These provisions, combined with the powers of local authorities under the Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919, are considered adequate, and the necessity for additional precautions at ports has not arisen.
Can the Minister state has he any way of preventing rats leaving the sinking ship of Fianna Fáil?
(Interruptions.)
Order.
53.
asked the Minister for Health whether his attention has been drawn to recent publicity suggesting that it has been found that rats in a very large area of Wales have developed immunity to Warfarin; and whether he has any information as to the possible danger to this country.
Mr. O'Malley
My Department has since 1961 been aware of the immunity of rats to Warfarin in certain limited areas of the United Kingdom. The position has been closely watched. So far, rats in Ireland have not proved immune to Warfarin. In any event, immunity creates no additional danger to this country, since it can be overcome by the use of alternative available poisons.