In this short Bill, I am seeking powers to enable me to control this new—if I may call it new—method of breeding by artificial insemination. It is not a matter of announcing any policy on this new method. We have not had any demands from any section of farmers for its introduction, but, as we have already one station in County Cork and as there are some prospects that we may have an application for the establishment of another such centre, I thought it necessary to seek the powers I am asking for in this Bill.
These powers briefly are (1) the licensing of all artificial insemination centres, excepting certain herds where the bulls and cows used are in the same private ownership; (2) the right of entry for authorised officers to any premises where there is reason to believe that artificial insemination is carried on; (3) power to prohibit the import or export of semen, except under licence; (4) power to revoke licences, if necessary; (5) power to make regulations the object of which will be to ensure the proper conduct of centres, and requiring that the technical qualifications of the staff, the premises, the equipment, the bulls used and the breeding methods, the records to be kept and the distribution of semen shall be subject to official approval. These powers are the powers contained in similar measures introduced by other Governments.
If any Senator should ask me to make a statement of my own attitude or the attitude of my Department towards this method of breeding, I am afraid I have little to say on the subject. It is only natural that our farmers should not be inclined to raise any fuss about the introduction of this practice because all of us would be more or less inclined to be prejudiced. I must say that I felt somewhat prejudiced on my first visit to the only centre we have here, but, when I went to the place, I changed my mind, and, although I might not be very enthusiastic yet about it, I came away with a view somewhat different from the view I held when going there. We can at any time we think it advisable—we have sufficient information from other countries—devise a scheme, if there is any public demand for it, to encourage these breeding methods, but, as I have already announced, I am not seeking power to devise, and I do not think I should be asked to outline, any such scheme in putting this Bill forward. The Bill merely gives me the right to see to it that, should any one make an application for the establishment of any further centres here, I, as Minister, will have the right to stipulate certain conditions before the applicant is allowed to start.