MR. PATRICK O'BRIENI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Government have yet decided to extend the scheduled area of Dublin, so as to allow the Dublin cowkeepers to send their stock to grass; and, if not, whether the Government are prepared 549 to compensate them for their losses from not being allowed to use the grass for which they have paid in advance before this Order was made, and the additional cost of having to feed their stock at greater cost within doors; and whether the Government have considered the advisability, both in the interest of the public health of Dublin and of the cattle trade, of having all dairy cattle removed outside the city and giving compensation to the cow-keepers?
§ MR. JACKSONThe Government have decided that it will not be possible to extend the scheduled area of Dublin so as to allow the Dublin cowkeepers to send their stock out to graze in the manner suggested. There have been continuous outbreaks within the scheduled district, and I am sorry to say that even within the area in which there is grazing within the scheduled district we have had several serious outbreaks which are evidently due to the fact that the cows have been allowed to be sent into that district. So far as I am advised, it is absolutely necessary to endeavour to restrict the area as much as possible. We are taking every precaution possible to stamp out the disease, and I did hope that we were making some progress. I have heard, I regret to say, of another outbreak in the district of Belfast, near to Lisburn; we have had several outbreaks within the scheduled area, and at present it would be quite impossible for the Government to relax the Orders. They must rather be enforced even more stringently with the view to trying to stamp out the disease in Ireland.
§ DR. TANNER (Cork Co., Mid)Is this outbreak of an infectious or noninfectious description; and has the right hon. Gentleman only got to assist him the veterinary authorities of Dublin Castle, who are two young gentlemen?
§ MR. JACKSONI think the hon. Gentleman is extremely unfair to the medical officers at Dublin Castle. I have the greatest confidence in their ability and judgment — they have devoted themselves to their task, as I can state of my own personal knowledge, with the most assiduous attention. Not only have they worked on lines 550 laid down by themselves, but we have been in constant communication with the Board of Agriculture, who have most willingly placed at our disposal all the information and assistance they could give us; and I am certain that nothing has been left undone by the Irish Office. So far, therefore, from receiving blame in this House, they deserve the greatest praise. The pleuro-pneumonia existing in the Dublin District is that known as contagious pleuro-pneumonia, and is not of a noninfectious character.
MR. O'BRIENIs it not the fact that Dublin is the seat of the disease, and would it not be possible to have the cows removed outside the city into buildings better suited to them? Did the deputation which waited upon the right hon. Gentleman state their willingness to do so on reasonable compensation being given; and would it not be a wise application of the funds at the disposal of the Government if they took that step at once?
§ MR. JACKSONI think the House will see that the hon. Gentleman raises a very large question, because if real effect were to be given to his suggestion—I do not say that it is not a suggestion that might be in itself effective—it would involve, in the first place, that the Government should build outside the Dublin scheduled district now sheds for all who have buildings in that district, and should compensate them for the property which they possess in Dublin; but I think we should have to go a step further before we were certain that we had got rid of the disease and that step would be the slaughter of all the cattle within the scheduled district. That is a very serious step, and I believe we are not entitled to expect from those who have the cattle in the scheduled district—I am making no complaint against them in saying this; they have given great assistance to us—that they are prepared to take that step, however much it might be to their interests, and still more largely to the interests of Ireland, that we should do everything possible to stamp out the disease.
§ DR. TANNERHave the Castle authorities taken any outside evidence as regards this question of infection; 551 and is the right hon. Gentleman aware that certain veterinary surgeons in Dublin have given it as their opinion that the disease is of a non-infectious character?
§ *MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! I must call the attention of the House to the manner in which the hon. Gentleman is asking questions. He not only asks questions, but he makes a speech, and puts a great number of arguments into his supplementary questions. It is impossible to carry on questions if every hon. Member abused his right in the way in which the hon. Member does.
§ *MR. SPEAKEROrder, order!