MR. F. A. O'KEEFFE (Limerick)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland what cause has given rise to the recent stringent Order of the Privy Council, Ireland, in 962 reference to swine fever; and, if his attention has been directed to the proceedings of the Limerick Board of Guardians on 13th inst., protesting against the enforcement of that Order in the division of Limerick?
MR J. MORLEYI am informed by the Veterinary Department of the Privy Council that, having regard to the prevalence of swine fever in Ireland, and to the fact that the unrestricted movement of swine to ant from markets and fairs tends to spread the disease, it was considered necessary to pass an Order in Council prohibiting sales of swine in any Poor Law Union to which the recent Order of the Privy Council applied, except with a licence of the Local Authority of such Union, which may be granted under certain conditions. This Order, which has been applied to 32 Unions, came into force on the 11th inst., and Orders of a similar nature are in force in this country. Attention has been drawn to a report of the proceedings of the Limerick Guardians protesting against the enforcement of the order in that district. I am told that Limerick is one of the Unions in which swine fever has been most prevalent, and that prior to the issue of the recent Order the disease appeared to be increasing rather than diminishing. An Order of the Board of Agriculture in this country is in force enabling Local Authorities in England to prohibit the importation of swine from Ireland into their districts, and it is therefore the more incumbent on the Authorities in Ireland to take every step calculated to stamp out the disease there