What I explained on a previous occasion was that we intended only to licence the keeping of musk rats for the purpose of scientific and biological research, as mentioned by Senator Counihan, and, secondly, for the purposes of the Zoological Gardens. In that connection, what I had in mind was that people might be anxious to know what a musk rat was like. Unless people know what they are like, we cannot get the proper help in exterminating them. I have heard since that it is doubtful if the Zoological Gardens would keep these rats, even if we asked them. I do not think they are anxious to have them. I should be quite willing to accept, in principle, Senator Counihan's amendment. The intention was to keep the rats for the purpose of experiment with a view to extermination. I had a letter to-day from a firm in Denmark giving what they say is a certain cure for the musk rat menace. It is something on the virus principle. It may be necessary, at some future time, to try to trap some of these rats alive and keep them with a view to seeing whether this method could be improved upon. I think we should at least get the power to keep them.
The section we are dealing with at present gives power to licence the keeping of musk rats. A different part of the Bill deals with their import. Senator Counihan has a later amendment to deal with that. I do not think that there will be any necessity to import these rats. I think that we could trap them alive and carry out experiments in that way. We were anxious to carry out an experiment on one of these rats and one was caught in Nenagh. However, he did not thrive well in confinement and, by the time we sent for him, he was dead. As time goes on, we may gain experience in dealing with them. If the Seanad were satisfied with the restriction that Sentaor Counihan proposes, I should be prepared to accept it but I would ask the Senator to withdraw it and let me bring in an amendment on Report Stage. The section which really should be amended is Section 11, which deals with the granting of licences. An amendment to that section would cover the keeping of rats and the import of them. Under Section 9, we could not deal with the import question. If we amended Section 11, it would settle the whole affair and restrict the giving of licences for the keeping of musk rats except for the purposes stated by Senator Counihan—biological or scientific research. If the Seanad is agreeable and if Senator Counihan's amendment is withdrawn, I shall bring in the necessary amendment on Report Stage.
