§ MR. DALY (Monaghan, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that in parts of England the compulsory muzzling of dogs is not in force, whereas there is no part of Ireland where the compulsory muzzling of dogs is not in force; whether he can explain why Ireland is treated differently from England in this matter; whether he intends to remove the compulsory muzzling of dogs in Ireland; and whether he will direct that, after the passing of the Local Government Bill, the powers of enforcing the compulsory muzzling of dogs will be placed in the hands of the county councils in Ireland?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY TO THE LORD LIEUTENANT OF IRELAND (Mr. GERALD W. BALFOUR,) Leeds, CentralOn the 11th February last, in answer to a question of the honourable and learned Member for North Louth, I explained fully the reasons which led to the application of the Muzzling Order to Ireland as a whole. I am unable to say anything as regards England. The total number of cases of rabies in Ireland during the half year ended 30th June, 1897, before the law came into operation, was 335. In the half year ended 30th June of this year the number had fallen to 52. These results afford reason for believing that a continued enforcement of the Order will lead at no very distant date to the stamping out of rabies in Ireland and the consequent suspension of the Order. The county councils created by the Local Government Bill will have such powers to deal with rabies, should it still continue to exist in the country, as may be conferred upon them by Order in Council, but the powers vested in the Lord Lieutenant and Privy Council of making Orders for prescribing and regulating the muzzling of dogs will remain unimpaired.