Seanad Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 14 Feb 1945

Vol. 29 No. 13

Diseases of Animals Bill, 1944—Report and Final Stages.

Government amendment:—

In pages 2-3, to insert the words "intended for human consumption" before the word "which" in line 35, page 2, in line 44, page 2, in line 2, page 3, and in line 11, page 3; and to delete the words "seized in any abattoir or market" in line 36, page 2, in line 44, page 2, in line 3, page 3, and in line 12, page 3, and substitute instead in each place for the words deleted, the word "destroyed."

Minister for Agriculture (Dr. Ryan)

As a result of the discussion on the last day on Section 3 Senator O'Donovan raised a point about carcases that came otherwise than from fair or market and to cover the point this amendment to sub-sections (1) to (4) was made. As it is on the Order Paper it is rather confused, but what it really means is that there is the same amendment to the four sub-sections. If you take sub-section (1), line 35, it will read "intended for human consumption which consequent upon the outbreak of disease have been destroyed." That will cover the carcase taken from the fair or market and at the abattoir or butcher's shop. I think that covers the point. The same amendment is made to the four sub-sections.

As explained on the Second Stage, these four sub-sections are exactly similar, but each of them deals with a different disease. The four diseases are: rinderpest, pleuro-pneumonia, foot-and-mouth disease and swine fever. Sub-section (3), I think, is the one that deals with foot-and-mouth disease, which is of more interest. If ever there should be an outbreak of rinderpest or pleuro-pneumonia then sub-sections (1) and (2) will come into play, and if there should be serious outbreak of swine fever then sub-section (4) will come into play. The same in all four sub-sections.

Mr. Seán O'Donovan

I wish to express my appreciation of the attitude of the Minister. He has met my points on these sub-sections and, so far as I am concerned, I am quite satisfied that the Bill is now a much more satisfactory instrument than it could be considered at first. I wish to thank the Minister for introducing the amendments. I think the Bill is far better than it was when we were discussing it at first.

Amendment agreed to.

Question proposed: "That the Bill, as amended, do now pass."

Mr. Counihan

On the Second Reading Senator Baxter referred to the precautions taken by the Minister and by the Department with regard to having people coming from fairs, markets and farms in Great Britain properly disinfected. I am in constant touch with the Minister's Department, and I am quite satisfied that everything possible in that respect is being done by the Minister and his officials. But I am not quite satisfied that people coming from farms in Great Britain on which there are outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease are dealt with. It is very difficult for the Minister and his officials to deal with that position unless it is done in Great Britain. I wish also to refer to the provision of a disinfecting chamber. I agree that the method adopted in this country is the same as in England and while it is very effective it is felt that it is inadequate for the purpose. The process consists of a disinfecting box at the North Wall. Passengers come out of a walled cabin in the ship and march into the draughty disinfecting box on a rainy or snowy morning and have to wait in a queue for their turn to enter the disinfecting box.

While those engaged in the cattle trade would suffer such inconvenience for the sake of keeping the disease out of this country it is not right to ask them to do so if it can be avoided. There should be a proper disinfecting chamber at the North Wall. There cannot be any other method than disinfecting boxes, but proper accommodation should be available at the North Wall and Dun Laoghaire, where those concerned could wait in comfort before being disinfected. While England continues to import meat from countries that are always infected with foot-and-mouth disease it will be continually breaking out in Great Britain. For that reason we will always have to take precautions and incur the expense of maintaining proper disinfecting chambers. I understand that the position in Belfast is worse. I was told that the disinfecting box is more than half a mile away from the stage where some of the boats arrive. I think representations should be made to the Belfast authorities, because anything that affects Belfast in regard to the live-stock trade affects the whole of Ireland. Many of our people when going to and returning from Britain, particularly from Scotland and the North of England, travel via Belfast. Representation should be made for the provision of greater facilities for the disinfection of those coming from Great Britain to Belfast or Derry. I think the Minister should endeavour to make representations to the Northern Ireland authorities with a view to getting them to consider the suggestions I have made as to having a proper waiting-chamber, or waiting-room, provided for people who have to await their turn on cold, wet or frosty mornings, in order to be disinfected.

Dr. Ryan

I quite agree with what Senator Counihan has said—that people, such as migratory workers, and others, who may be suspected of having contact, direct or indirect, with possible sources of infection, should be dealt with in a reasonable way, and with as little inconvenience as possible to them, but I think that the officials concerned with that matter take every possible step to prevent the spread of infection, and also to suit the convenience of the people concerned. As the Senator himself has pointed out, every possible precaution should be taken to prevent the spread of the disease by avoiding contact between those suspected persons and others.

I am sorry, however, to hear what Senator Counihan said about nothing having been done in regard to what he called out-of-date methods of disinfection, and the long waiting list. In view of what he has said, I shall certainly look into that matter—as a matter of fact, it has been mentioned to me already, and I have been inquiring into it—with a view to trying to do something to alleviate the hardships involved through a long waiting list. However, I would suggest to the Senator that we ought to do something in that regard in this part of the country before approaching Belfast: that we ought to put our own house in order first. However, I shall make inquiries about it.

Question put and agreed to.