MR. FIELD (Dublin, St. Patrick)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board, will he explain why no prosecution can follow a person or property from a foreign company consigning unsound or diseased meat into this country; and whether he can arrange that legal penalties will ensue to importers similar to those inflicted on native producers under like circumstances?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARDWhen meat has been seized on the ground of its being diseased or unsound, the person to whom the same belongs or did belong at the time of exposure for sale or in whose possession or on whose premises the same is found, is liable to a penalty, or may at the discretion of the justices be sentenced to imprisonment without the option of a fine. This provision applies 479 equally to unsound or diseased meat, whether imported from abroad or native produce, and there is no exemption in the case of meat sent to this country by a foreign company.
§ MR. FLYNN (Cork, N.)Have there ever been any prosecutions in connection with the importation of diseased meat?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARDIf diseased meat is found exposed for sale, the person exposing it is prosecuted, no matter where the meat comes from.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARDOh! I cannot say that.