MR. T. M. HEALYI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland why the Dogs' Muzzling Order is general in Ireland and only partial in England. And what is the percentage of rabies in the two kingdoms?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI am unable to say anything as regards England. The Muzzling Order has been made general in Ireland owing to the fact that the cases of rabies in Ireland have been distributed sporadically all over the country, to the complete failure of the method of dealing with the disease by regulations applied to comparatively small areas which had been tried in previous years, and to the urgent representations made by a number of Local Authorities that a uniform code of Muzzling Regulations should be applied to the 368 whole country. The total number of cases of rabies in Ireland during the past year was 498; of these 335 cases were reported in the half-year ended 30th June, and during the second half-year, when the Muzzling Order was in force throughout the country, the number was 163.
MR. HEALYI should like to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware that a large number of protests have been lodged by a large number of Boards against this Act?
§ No answer.